ISLAMABAD: A total of 17,000 Hajj applicants who were on waiting list have been declared successful under the government scheme. According to the Ministry of Interfaith Harmony and Religious Affairs, the decision has been taken in light of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s directions. The successful Hajjis will be formally informed through post and SMS. They had been on the waiting list since the Hajj balloting on April 28 this year. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has announced to provide visas to 100,000 Pakistanis, permitting them to perform Umrah. A statement from Saudi Arabia’s Karachi Consulate dnastated that due to a technical glitch, some Pakistanis had not been issued visas for Saudi Arabia. However, now the authorities will grant the visas within 24 hours. The consulate, while apologising for the delay, denied all the allegations levelled against Saudi authorities.