ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to immediately convene the Policy Formulation Committee, constituted under the direction of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, for early finalisation of policy options for Hajj 2018 and its approval from the cabinet.
The prime minister gave these orders while chairing a meeting on Hajj policy here at the PM Office.
During the meeting, PM Abbasi said that afterwards the process of inviting applications should be started as soon as possible, so as to complete the balloting process per schedule and ensure timely arrangements for Hajj pilgrims.
Abbasi also directed that special considerations should be given to the applicants over the age of 75 years, and to those who applied for three consecutive years but were not selected through the balloting process.
Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Religious Affairs Division secretary, Pakistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and senior officials were also present during the meeting.
The prime minister was given a detailed briefing on Hajj operations and efforts being made by the ministry to improve the system. The PM was informed that the present government had accorded special attention towards providing better facilities to pilgrims who would visit Saudi Arabia to perform their religious duty.
The confidence of the people over the fairness and transparency of the system was clearly reflected through the number of applications received in 2017, almost 338,696, as compared to 86,919 applications received in 2013.
The PM expressed satisfaction over the overall improvements made during the last four years in providing quality and affordable accommodation, better catering and transport facilities to Hajj pilgrims. Matters pertaining to the security of religious pilgrims visiting Iran and Iraq also came under discussion during the meeting.