Pak govt to surrender quota of 21,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government is set to surrender the quota of around 21,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia after receiving less than expected applications in the sponsorship scheme.

As the deadline of submission of applications under the sponsorship scheme for overseas Pakistanis ended on December 31, the Ministry of Religious Affairs received around 4,000 applications against the quota of 25,000.

As per the Haj Policy 2024 approved by the Federal Cabinet, a quota of 25,000 for sponsorship scheme out of the regular scheme was reserved to receive payments in foreign exchange. However, less than 20 percent target was met.

In the regular scheme, the Ministry received over 69,000 for quota of 63,500. As a result, a total of 5,633 applicants were declared unsuccessful.

Minister of Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed, on the eve of Haj balloting on December 28, had announced that the Federal Cabinet would be requested to accommodate 5,633 unsuccessful applicants in the sponsorship scheme’s quota.

However, official sources told The News that no summary by the ministry had been moved to the cabinet in this regard. “There will be no significant burden on the foreign exchange if remaining 5,633 applicants are also declared as successful,” one of the unsuccessful applicants who approached this correspondent said. Last year, the government reserved equal quota of around 44,500 each for regular scheme and sponsorship scheme. Then government, however allowed little over 71,000 applicants in regular scheme to perform Haj after receiving only 7,000 applications in sponsorship scheme. Meanwhile, the banks have also started making refunds to unsuccessful applicants. However, if the government takes any decision in favour of 5,633 unsuccessful applicants, they would be accommodated even if refunds are made. An official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said that it was the second time that sponsorship scheme was introduced in order to generate maximum foreign exchange for making payments in Saudi Arabia. He said that short duration package of 20 to 25 days was also introduced to attract overseas Pakistanis under the sponsorship scheme but expected results were not achieved. “We are receiving calls from unsuccessful applicants who want the government to accommodate them,” he said.