Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah and secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs came under fire in the federal cabinet meeting for presenting an “anti-poor Haj Policy” due to a significant raise in Haj fares and thus “depriving the poor” from the performing the pilgrimage.
A source told Pakistan Today that soon after a presentation on Haj Policy, some PPP ministers from Sindh, led by Senator Maula Baksh Chandio, made an effort to hoodwink their colleagues on the Haj fare raise and showered praises on Shah for efficiently managing Haj operations during the past year. However, the move was thwarted by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Minister Babar Khan Ghauri who objected to undue raise in Haj fee.
“Ghauri’s arguments were duly supported by PML-Q State Minister Shaikh Waqas Akram who said this was an anti-poor move that would deprive the poor from performing Haj,” said the source, adding that Akram’s arguments triggered a heated debate in the cabinet meeting.
“Faisal Saleh Hayat also joined the debate and said it was injustice to the poor who were already facing skyrocketing prices. Manzoor Wattoo also joined in and supported views expressed by the Q leaguers,” said the source. The source said Akram said there was no logic behind increasing the fare by Rs 20,000 for white class – a class for people from poor and middle classes. “This is sheer injustice. Last year, the fare for white class was fixed at Rs 212,000 and now these have been increased up to Rs 233,000. There is no logic for such an increase when around Rs 100,000 have already been added to the Blue Class fare,” the source quoted Akram as saying.
Faisal Saleh said when the blue class had been added, there was no logic to increase fares for white and green classes and the government should have provided subsidy for the poor intending pilgrims. Khurshid Shah urged his cabinet colleagues to pass the Haj policy as the same had already been delayed and there was not much time left to make arrangements for pilgrims. “This debate finally compelled Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to intervene. He asked the cabinet members to pass the Haj policy as there was not much time left. He also directed finance minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to look into the matter and try to provide some funds to the Religious Affairs Ministry for provision of subsidy to the people related to the poor and middle classes,” the source added.
Later, talking to reporters, Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said that after the Supreme Court verdict on the contempt of court case, a special cabinet meeting will be held. He said that the federal cabinet considered and gave its approval for confirmation of the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meetings held on 6th and 12th April. The federal cabinet also gave its unanimous approval for Haj Policy and Plan 2012. After the signing of bilateral annual agreement between the Government of Pakistan and the Ministry of Haj, and Kingdom of 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 through Haj workshops at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta. While giving details of the Haj policy, Khursheed Shah said the Haj quota for 2012 will remain 179,210 and Haj scheme-2012 shall be implemented through the government and Private Hajj Group Organizer (HGOs) in the ration of 50:50.