Karachi, Pakistan - Pakistan has asked its women Haj pilgrims to wear abayas or burqas, following objections by the Saudi Arabian government.
Religious Affairs Secretary Wakeel Ahmed Khan said, for the last three years, the Saudi Arabian government has been objecting about the way Pakistani women dress during Haj.
"This is why we will provide abayas to women who will go for Haj in 2007 under the government's Hajj scheme," Khan said.
"Moreover, people designated to take care of the Hujjaj there (Khuddam) will be asked to ensure that Pakistani women there do not get out of their houses and hotels sans abayas," the Daily Times quoted him as saying.
According to the paper, when the Haj scheme is announced officially, private Haj operators will also be made to follow this rule.