Saudi Arabia asked to increase Afghanistan’s hajj quota

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan has asked Saudi Arabia to enhance its hajj quota from 30,000 to 45,000, the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs said on Monday.

The request was made by Afghanistan's Acting Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs during a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia,.

According to a statement from the Afghan Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, a total of 13,582 people from Afghanistan performed this year’s hajj pilgrimage.

Before the restrictions imposed due to coronavirus, the qouta of Afghan pilgrims was around 30 thousand people.

Acting Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs Dr. Noor Muhammad Saqib met with Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdul-Fattah bin Sulaiman Mushat in Makkah.

According to the statement, Saqib said in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, obstacles in the way would be removed and Umrah journey will be allowed for Afghans once again.

Pointing out that 100,000 people from Afghanistan are waiting for the Hajj, he asked Mushat to increase the number of Afghan pilgrims from 30,000 to 45,000.

He also said that the price of providing services to pilgrims, especially Afghan pilgrims, was high and it was a difficult task.

Saqib also requested that Saudi Arabia to help Afghanistan repair and construct mosques and train scholars.

According to the statement, Mushat assured Saqib that his request would be given a positive response and they would into possibility of increasing the hajj quota for Afghans.

About the increase in prices, he said the issue was related to the increase in prices at the international level, but his country was trying to assist pilgrims of all countries.

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