Saudi Arabia on Thursday asked Pakistan not to prepare Hajj agreement this year as the coronavirus pandemic spreads throughout the world, according to a letter received here from the kingdom.
In the letter sent to Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten said there should be no agreement this time owing to lockdown measures in the wake of coronavirus. The kingdom, according to Dr Saleh, is continuously monitoring the situation and said that it will inform as soon as a marked improvement regarding coronavirus is observed.
Pakistan government later confirmed that it has stopped signing contracts for transport and hoteling for Hajj this year. Religious Affairs ministry spokesperson said the minister has discussed the matter with his Saudi counterpart who has assured that if possible, Hajj will certainly be held. “The consultations are underway,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony had conducted balloting for the government’s Hajj scheme under which almost 100,000 pilgrims were picked to go to Saudi Arabia to perform the annual pilgrimage scheduled later this year.
Millions of Muslims from around the world gather annually in Makkah for Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage which follows the Sunnah of Holy Prophet (PBUH) more than 1,400 years ago. Taking part in pilgrimage at least once in one’s lifetime is a major obligation for all able-bodied Muslims having financial means, and between two to three million people participate in the six-day ritual every year.
