LAHORE: The Umrah season will begin from mid-October under the new system and regulations aimed at increasing the number of pilgrims from other countries to 1.25 million a month, said a Ministry of Religious Affairs spokesman on Monday.

Quoting Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar, the spokesman said the number of Umrah pilgrims would be doubled during the next five years under a plan.

The new Umrah system and regulations would come into effect with the start of 1437 Hijra year and annually some 10 million visas would be issued to pilgrims.

The number of Umrah pilgrims was five million in 2013, some six million visas were issued in 2014-15, the figure would be 10 million in 2016 and up to 60 million by 2018.

“Starting from next Haj season, the number of pilgrims will increase to five million and then to 30 million in the coming five years,” said the spokesman while quoting the Saudi minister as having said that the KSA ministry would continue to use its e-portal under which procedures to issue visa would not take more than a few minutes.

Published in Dawn, October 13th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play