Even as the central Hajj committee raised Jammu and Kashmir's [Images] quota by another 1500 seats, the state government is still short of another 7000 to accommodate this years 13330 Hajj aspirants for 2007.

The central Hajj committee on Tuesday responded to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam [Images] Nabi Azad's request for enhancement of the annual Hajj quota for the state.

Kashmir divisional commissioner and convenor of the State Hajj committee, Mehboob Iqbal told this correspondent on Tuesday evening that the central Hajj committee had added another 1500 seats to the state quota for the Hajj 2007.

"We still need another 7000 seats to accommodate all the applicants for Hajj 2007," Mehboob Iqbal said.

The announced increase in the Hajj quota came in the wake of personal requests by the chief minister to central Hajj committee.

This year the state can now send 8130 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform the Holiest Muslim pilgrimage.

Arrangements are already underway for the Hajj flights which now operate directly between Srinagar [Images] and Jeddah.