ISLAMABAD – The Ministry of Religious Affairs is all set to present the draft of Hajj policy-2011 before the Federal Cabinet for final approval as it has already been discussed in the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Religious Affairs.
This year, according to draft of the new policy, around 179,256 intending pilgrims will be sent to Saudi Arabia for performing the religious obligation under both the government and private Hajj schemes.
After getting the policy approved, the Ministry would start receiving applications through designated bank branches from the aspirants of performing Hajj later this month – almost six months before the commencement of pre-Hajj flight operation.
There will be no balloting for Hajj this year as formula of “First come, First-served” will be applied to ensure transparency in the entire process.
Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah will himself supervise the entire Hajj operation with an aim to ensure flawless arrangements and provide maximum facilities to Hujjaj.
Pakistan has acquired a huge building comprising 211 rooms in Makkah for four years and named it as “Pakistan House,” which is at a distance of just 900 metres from Masjid-e-Haram.
Hajj expenses are likely to be curtailed by around Rs16,000 per pilgrim in the new policy as compared to the previous year.
Around 900 Pakistani students and youth living in Saudi Arabia will be hired as Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj who would be paid 75 riyals to 100 riyals per day.
There will be one ‘Khadim’ for 200 pilgrims, while a contingent of 180 doctors and 360 para-medical staff will be deployed to ensure complete health cover to Pakistani Hujjaj.
Ministry of Religious Affairs to present Hajj policy-2011
