Islamabad (Agencies): Saudi Arabia has turned down Islamabad’s request to increase the hajj quota for Pakistan for the year 2018 and remained the same at 179,210.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Thursday signed an agreement to this effect in Jeddah.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf represented the Pakistani side while from the Saudi side, Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten signed the agreement.
Sharing details of the agreement, an official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said the federal minister had requested the Saudi government to enhance the existing hajj quota from 179,210 to 210,000 in view of increase in the country’s population.
Last year, Pakistan had made a similar request but that too was turned down.
“The Saudi government once again responded that it will reconsider the request,” said the official.
