RAWALPINDI: The government has finalized all the arrangements including accommodation, transportation, catering and others in Saudi Arabia for the government Hajj scheme 2018 said Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf.

Talking to APP, he said, due to excellent Hajj arrangements made last year by the government in Saudi Arabia, record number of applications were submitted this year by the citizens for government

Hajj scheme 2018. The government has formulated a policy to facilitate the intending Hajj pilgrims, he added.

The minister said, the government was taking more steps to ensure better Hajj arrangements.

Sardar Yousaf informed that the government had fixed 67 percent quota for the government Hajj scheme and 33 percent for the private sector.

He further said, a quota of 10,000 was fixed for the applicants applying for last three years and 10,000 for the in tending Hajj pilgrims of over 80 years.

He informed that training of intending Hajj pilgrims has also been started.

The government had adopted a transparent policy for 2018 Hajj scheme, adding different committees formed in this regard were approved by federal cabinet, he added.

Sardar Yousaf said, all-out efforts would be made to facilitate the Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and best arrangements would be made like last years.