Minister for Religious Affairs Talha Mahmood has said that starting the following year, all Hajj costs will be paid in US dollars.
While addressing a press conference, the minister also complimented the 160,000 Pakistani pilgrims for performing Hajj.
He praised the efforts of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and added that this year's Hajj saw no unpleasant incidents in Jamarat, the site of stone-throwing.
He stated that the majority of the pilgrims were content with the arrangements.
The minister also announced that he had increased the Hajj quota to around 179,000 for the following year. However, he said, "Hajj expenses will be paid in US dollars rather than Pakistani rupees."
He said that the Saudi government made great preparations for the Hajj, and he personally went to the lodgings of Pakistani pilgrims.
He said that the Pakistani delegation gave Pakistanis performing the Hajj the best support possible.
The minister said that he was allowed to perform the Hajj as a guest of the state, but he chose to do it as a "common man" instead.
He added that the Saudi minister had heard about the issues facing Hajj pilgrims and had promised to address them in the future.
The minister claimed that he has never permitted anybody to perform the Hajj for free and will continue to do so in the future.
He said that as a minister, he had covered his expenses for the Hajj, stayed with other Pakistani Haajis, and performed Hajj.
While responding to a query, he said President Alvi's Hajj had nothing to do with his ministry and he had no idea how many individuals performed Hajj with the president.
While addressing a press conference, the minister also complimented the 160,000 Pakistani pilgrims for performing Hajj.
He praised the efforts of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman and added that this year's Hajj saw no unpleasant incidents in Jamarat, the site of stone-throwing.
He stated that the majority of the pilgrims were content with the arrangements.
The minister also announced that he had increased the Hajj quota to around 179,000 for the following year. However, he said, "Hajj expenses will be paid in US dollars rather than Pakistani rupees."
He said that the Saudi government made great preparations for the Hajj, and he personally went to the lodgings of Pakistani pilgrims.
He said that the Pakistani delegation gave Pakistanis performing the Hajj the best support possible.
The minister said that he was allowed to perform the Hajj as a guest of the state, but he chose to do it as a "common man" instead.
He added that the Saudi minister had heard about the issues facing Hajj pilgrims and had promised to address them in the future.
The minister claimed that he has never permitted anybody to perform the Hajj for free and will continue to do so in the future.
He said that as a minister, he had covered his expenses for the Hajj, stayed with other Pakistani Haajis, and performed Hajj.
While responding to a query, he said President Alvi's Hajj had nothing to do with his ministry and he had no idea how many individuals performed Hajj with the president.