At least 2000 residents of Khatlon province will be able to perform this year’s Hajj.

In his interview to Islamnews.tj head of the Khatlon Khukumat’s Department for Religion Safarbek Sharipov said a total of 1.837 Hajj quotas were allocated to cities and regions of the province this year. However, the number of potential pilgrims exceeds this figure.

“We received nearly 5000 applications, part of them were registered back in 2009. Quotas will be given to this type of pilgrims first,” Sharipov said.

He assured that with this quota Khatlon officials will be able to satisfy applications of all potential pilgrims by 2015.

“Of course the number of quotas we have is not enough. However, it is beyond our competence to increase the number of Hajj quotas for residents of Khatlon area,” Sharipov says.

He added that the regional department for religion ordered all regional khukumats to prioritize those applications which were submitted in 2009 first.