ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri clarified that the Saudi government had not taken a decision regarding the number of pilgrims and the coronavirus protocols for Haj 2021.
The minister in a video statement said that he had spoken to the Saudi Haj and Umrah minister in this regard, adding that the Saudi health officials have made suggestions; however, a decision has not yet been taken.
He said, “It is my duty to clarify this to the nation. Whenever a decision is taken, Saudi officials will take us into confidence. So far, a decision has not been taken regarding the number of pilgrims and Covid SOPs,” he said.
سعودی وزیر حج و عمرہ کا @NoorulhaqPir سے ٹیلیفونک رابطہ، سعودی حکومت نے ابھی تک #Hajj2021 پر حتمی پالیسی جاری نہیں کی۔ عازمین کی تعداد اور SOPs پر پاکستان کو اعتماد میں لینگے۔ حج سے متعلق میڈیا پر آنے والی خبریں سعودی وزارت صحت کی سفارشات ہیں: پیر نورالحق قادری pic.twitter.com/4GXCxNMFV0
— Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony (@MORAisbOfficial) May 23, 2021
Earlier today, it was reported that Saudi Arabia has decided to allow pilgrims from outside the country including Pakistan to perform Hajj this year.
This was also confirmed by Special Representative to the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Maulana Tahir Ashrafi who said Saudi Arabia has allowed Hajj for 60,000 people from across the world including Pakistan.
He said the Saudi government would later inform Pakistan about the number of pilgrims that will be allowed to perform the ritual from the country.
Ashrafi said people under the age of 18 and over 60 will not be able to go for Hajj, while the pilgrims would have to quarantine in Saudi Arabia for three days. Vaccination is a must for all pilgrims.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has approached the Saudi government following the Saudi government’s condition that all Hajj pilgrims must have obtained coronavirus vaccinations.
The government has approached Saudi authorities to allow people inoculated with Chinese vaccines to enter after the Kingdom had said it would not permit travelers who have been administered vaccines from China.
Earlier this month, the kingdom said it intends to organize this year’s Haj, which is due in July, in line with health, security and organization controls to protect pilgrims’ health amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of the Hajj and Umrah said related regulations and executive plans will be announced later. The ministry’s Undersecretary Hesham Saeed previously said that Saudi Arabia is considering all options for this year’s Hajj including the possibility of allowing a “symbolic” number of pilgrims from abroad.
Last year’s Hajj was performed by a limited number of Saudis and foreign Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia to contain the spread of COVID-19.
