Umrah visa, which is issued for religious purposes only, will be valid for up to 90 days for Pakistani pilgrims, enabling them to explore other sacred sites as Saudi Arabia promotes its religious tourism.
The Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, announced the decision in a joint press conference with the current Minister for Religious Affairs, Aneeq Ahmed, VisaGuide.World reports.
During their visit, Pakistani nationals will be able to visit another 100 historical and religious places that are open in the Makkah and Madinah cities, known for their religious tourism. The Saudi Minister also mentioned that his government is dedicated to reducing Haj expenses for pilgrims, as both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan enjoy close diplomatic relations.
The Minister also revealed civil aviation authorities of the two countries have signed agreements, which conclude that the number of flights between the Muslim-majority countries would be increased.
In addition, Pakistani nationals over 65 years of age who want to perform Hajj and Umrah should be exempted from the biometric condition, as the Pakistani representative demanded. He also said that the provision of alternative sites for Pakistani Houses in Makkah and Madinah was due to an extension in the premises of the two holy mosques.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage is expected to bring millions of Muslims to Saudi Arabia, as this is the first time they can fulfil their religious duties since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is estimated that more than 2.5 million people are expected to go on pilgrimage, which could be the largest Haj pilgrimage in history. This year’s attendance can be double the last one, which saw around one million people coming to the city for religious purposes. The number of those allowed to participate in 2020 was 10,000; in 2021, that number rose to 59,000, revealing that the number of pilgrims is rising.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and anyone who considers himself a Muslim and has the financial means has to visit the sacred site. The price for Hajj is at least €5,000 a person, which generates billions for Saudi Arabia, which is also the world’s biggest oil exporter.
Businessmen and hotel owners say that accommodation spots in Mecca and Madinah are fully booked in the first week of July.
“This year, there is not a single vacant bed in our group of 67 hotels,” Saudi businessman Samir al-Zafni told AFP.
According to the General Authority for Statistics figures, the number of pilgrims who performed Hajj in 1440 (2018) exceeded 2.4 million. At the same time, the number of domestic pilgrims was estimated at about 634,000 male and female pilgrims, including 211,000 Saudis and 423,000 foreigners.