ISLAMABAD: At least 87,813 desiring pilgrims were selected through a computerised balloting on Thursday under the government’s Hajj scheme 2018, reported a local media outlet.
Despite numerous petitions regarding the Hajj quota pending before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the federal cabinet at its meeting had allowed the Ministry for Religious Affairs to immediately carry out Hajj balloting for 50 per cent of the total quota of the pilgrims.
Although many private Hajj operators had obtained stay orders against new Hajj Policy 2018, the balloting is said not to affect the contentions raised before the court by the petitioners, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat Shah said.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said: “Keeping in mind the growing restlessness among applicants and the uncertainty about reimbursement of payment, the ministry had requested the federal cabinet to proceed with the lottery under a 50 per cent quota.”
This year 374,829 people have applied for Hajj on government quota against the provisional quota for 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims allocated by the Saudi authorities.
The successful aspirants would be intimated through Short Message Service (SMS) on their mobile phones while intimation letters would also be sent to the selected pilgrims. The successful applicants can also check their names by visiting their respective banks.
Earlier, the Senate was informed that the government was taking all practical steps to ensure utmost transparency in Hajj balloting for the current year.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf told the House during questions hour that Hajj pilgrims were selected through computerised balloting because a large number of Hajj applications have been received by the religious affairs ministry under the government scheme.
He said that a quota of 10,000 had been reserved for applicants who remained unsuccessful in their attempts to go for Hajj pilgrimage, even though they tried a few times.
