Pakistan to sign new agreement for Haj with Tawafa group

Makkah, March 15, 2011 (PPI): Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah discussed arrangements for this year’s Haj with Adnan Amin Katib, chairman of Tawafa Organization in Makkah and agreed to scrap previous agreement on provision of special services at a cost of SR700 per pilgrim and decided to sign a new agreement, Arab News reported.

Tawafa organization agreed to provide Haj package and training to Pakistani pilgrims. Officials of Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Ministry and Tawafa organization will meet on Wednesday to discuss further cooperation.

Khursheed said he wished Pakistani pilgrims be allotted space in old Mina and Arafat on first-come, first-served basis without going through balloting system of allotment. He said his primary object was to cut cost of Haj for Pakistani pilgrims and make it more comfortable for them.

He thanked Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for excellent Haj arrangements made last year and Saudi Haj minister for an additional 20,000 quota for Pakistani pilgrims. Katib assured of all possible steps to provide more facilities to Pakistani pilgrims.