From correspondents in Islamabad, Pakistan, 11:30 PM IST

The Pakistan government Wednesday abolished the Haj quota of all parliamentarians, including president and prime minister, in order to 'provide equal chance' to every aspirant.

Announcing a new Haj policy for 2009, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said the government and private tour operators will equally share the Hajj quota this year.

Around 160,000 Pakistani Muslims will perform the holy journey to Makkah. The government and private operators will each send 80,000 pilgrims, Pakistan's Online news agency quoted the minister as saying after a cabinet meeting here.

Kaira said ministers' quota has been abolished, and now each and every pilgrim will go on merit and there will be no quota system for any official.

This, he said, has been done to provide equal chance to every aspirant. He said that pilgrims would get their chance through lucky draw.

He said the government has requested Saudi Arabia for additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims.

The cabinet also decided not to issue new license to any fresh tour operator.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)