News
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Cabinet gives approval to new Hajj policy
* Religious affairs minister says Hajj quota
for 2012 will remain 179,210ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday gave its unanimous approval to the Hajj policy and plan for 2012.
“After the signing of a bilateral annual agreement between the governments of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on February 22, Hajj Policy 2011 has been reviewed and modified on the basis of an in-depth analysis and consultation with all stakeholders,” said Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira at a press conference along with Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khursheed Shah.
He said that Hajj Policy 2012 had been formulated by incorporating necessary features of the agreement and ground realities relating to accommodation market and facilities to be provided to pilgrims.
Kaira said the cabinet praised Khursheed Shah for making “very good” arrangements for last year’s Hajj.
Giving details of the Hajj policy, Khursheed Shah said the Hajj quota for 2012 would remain 179,210 and Hajj scheme 2012 would be implemented through the government scheme and private Hajj Group Organiser (HGOs) in the ration of 50:50.
He said that applications for Hajj 2012 under the government’s Hajj scheme would be received on the ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Khursheed Shah said that applications under the government scheme would be invited through designated banks and the intending pilgrims could apply in the group of 10-25 through a group leader.
Any person who has performed Hajj during the last five years will not be eligible to perform Hajj in 2012 except for mehram, group leader or the one undertaking Hajj-e-Badal.
The minister said that under the government’s Hajj scheme, three categories of accommodation – Blue Category within 900 metres without transport with a rental ceiling of Saudi Riyals (SR) 7,500 per pilgrim, Green Category within 2,000 metres with transport with a rental ceiling of SR 5,000 per pilgrim and White Category beyond 2,000 metres with transport with a rental ceiling of SR 3,600 per pilgrim – would be arranged by the Pakistan Hajj Mission, Jeddah.
The minister said that pilgrims under the government’s scheme would not be required to pay any amount on account of personal exchange quota (PEQ) and it would be arranged by them from open market through banks or foreign exchange companies.
Pilgrims, he added, would be airlifted by four air carriers – PIA, Shaheen Air International, Saudi Airline and NAS Air.
Airfare for Hajj 2012, as finalised with PIA, would be Rs 73,000 for south region and Rs 85,000 for north region, he said. A comprehensive awareness campaign for education and training of intending pilgrims will also be launched, the minister said. appCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk