Kathmandu, 1 February: Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa has placed a request before the Saudi government to consider increasing quota for the Nepali Muslims for the Hajj journey from 1,200 to 2,400.
Yearly, a total of 1,200 Nepali Muslims have been leaving for Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage. This year, Hajj will begin in the evening of August 9 and ends on August 14.
Mecca is home to the Kaaba that represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God in Islam. By majority description, it is Islam’s holiest shrine and Hajj, being one of the five duties that are required of all Muslims once in a lifetime, is performed here annually. The other duties are salat, sawm, shahada, and zakat according to the Islamic tradition.
In a courtesy call paid by Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nepal on Minister Thapa here today, Minister Thapa commended the contributions made by the Saudi Arabian government in Nepal’s economic development.
Thapa also shared that his Ministry was doing homework to make labor agreement with Saudi Arabia, according to a press statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
On the occasion, Saudi Arabian ambassador praised the Nepali migrant workers to be diligent and honest and lauded that they had significantly contributed to the development of Saudi Arabia.
Stating that Saudi Arabia was willing to extend its support to Nepal in various sectors, he pledged his utmost cooperation to make Visit Nepal Year 2020 a success.
