ISLAMABAD: According to the new Haj policy approved by the federal cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday, no one will get Haj freebies for the next three years. Importantly, unsuccessful applicants from 2010 would be considered approved in 2011, subject to the conditions that they had not withdrawn their Haj dues from the previous year or applied afresh this year.
At a press briefing following the meeting, Minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Khurshid Shah, announced the details of the new policy that will be applicable for three years subject to occasional adjustments made by the ministry on account of Saudi Taleemat (regulations).
“There will be no free Haj for journalists, Jiyalas, or parliamentarians, everyone will have to pay from their own kitty,” Shah said. “Everyone, including parliamentarians and those proceeding to Haj from the 14% discretionary quota of the ministry, will have to deposit the required payment.” Minister for Information, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, was also present at the press briefing.
The religious affairs minister told the media that as many as 179,256 Pakistani pilgrims, compared to 159,547 in 2010, would perform Haj this year. Of the total number, 50 percent will be allocated to the Regular Government Haj Scheme and 50 percent to private operators. Successful pilgrims under the Regular Scheme would be selected on a ‘first come first served’ basis as opposed to through balloting, as was the practice in the past.
Shah also announced that pilgrims travelling from the northern parts of the country would pay a reduced amount of Rs212,000 as compared to last year’s charge of Rs238,000. Similarly, pilgrims traveling from southern parts of the country would pay Rs200,000 compared to Rs226,000 from last year. The air fare, however, has been increased by Rs5,000 (6 percent).
Five scheduled banks will receive Haj applications from April 15 to May 10 and the application process will be halted if the required number of applications were received before the application deadline.
The religious minister also announced that special arrangements will be made for the pilgrims during their stay in Mina and that they will be provided travelling facility by mono-train to perform Haj. The minister said accommodations for 27,000 pilgrims had been arranged so far, while the acquisition of buildings for 50,000 additional pilgrims would be arranged by the end of April. To facilitate intending Hujjaj, efforts are also underway to allocate a special terminal for the Pakistani pilgrims at Jeddah airport, said the minister.
Another policy change is the setting up of a committee of parliamentarians, the Haj Advisory Committee, to advise on policy, planning and management of Haj operations in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Commenting on welfare services provided under the new policy, the Haj minister said that a non-refundable premium of Rs400 would be charged per pilgrim as part of a pilgrim protection scheme and a sum of Rs200,000 will be paid from this fund in case of death during pilgrimage, Rs50,000 for the loss of a limb in an accident, Rs100,000 for loss of two limbs and Rs50,000 for emergency evacuation due to illness.
Shah also announced that the number of doctors accompanying the medical mission will be increased from 90 to 180 while the number of paramedics was being enhanced from 150 to 300.
There is also a change in the policy of hiring the services of Khaddam (assistants). “Instead of taking Khaddam from Pakistan, 900 Pakistani students already living in Saudi Arabia will be hired for this purpose and each will be paid 100 Riyals per day,” the minister said. This policy change has occurred because it was observed that Khaddam hired from Pakistan were busy performing Haj themselves instead of serving the pilgrims.
Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan added that besides approving the Haj policy, the cabinet also discussed the economic and political situation of the country. She said the prime minister has directed that the consumer price index be put before the cabinet regularly and appropriate measures be taken to bring down the prices of essential commodities.
The cabinet was also briefed about the implementation of its decisions by various ministries. Awan also announced that the cabinet has approved a number of agreements and Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) signed with other countries.
