March 14, 2016
News
New Hajj policy to be announced by the month’s end
APP
ISLAMABAD: The new Hajj policy is likely to be announced by the last week of March as draft for the policy is being given final touches by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter Faith Harmony. Official sources in the Religious Affairs Ministry said that the ministry would start receiving Hajj applications after getting federal government’s approval. Pakistan’s suspended quota for Hajj has not yet been restored and 143,000 lucky persons would perform Hajj this year including 50 percent through government and same through private Hajj scheme. The sources said that Hajj facilities being offered to Pakistani pilgrims are not only inexpensive but also better as compared to other Islamic countries like Iran, Turkey and Indonesia. According to reports, some Hajj group organisers have started booking for Hajj despite the fact that five years quota distribution agreement of ministry and 740 Hajj group organisers had already finished in 2015. The decision about quota distribution to Hajj group organisers would be announced in the new Hajj policy. Most of the Hajj Group Organisers are earning Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 profit per Hajji. The organizers earn Rs 300,000 to Rs 400,000 profit on VIP Hajj package. The sources said that the ministry is persistently persuading Hajj group organisers to decrease exorbitant private Hajj packages. They further said that the ministry had constituted Complaint Disposal Committee (CDC) to promptly dispose of complaints adding that the ministry plans strict action against the Hajj group organisers, who had violated the agreement inked with private scheme for Hajj.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk