Federal Cabinet approves Hajj policy 2019, decides against subsidy

LAHORE - The Federal Cabinet has approved the Hajj policy 2019 while rejecting a proposal for subsidy put forth by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

During the cabinet meeting in Islamabad, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the cabinet was briefed on the Hajj policy and informed that 184,210 Pakistani citizens would perform Hajj this year.

According to reports, some federal ministers opposed the proposal of a government subsidy in the Hajj policy for 2019. The Ministry of Religious Affairs had proposed a subsidy of Rs45, 000 per pilgrim.

Under the Hajj policy for 2019, a package for residents from the northern region of the country will now cost Rs436,975 while for the south region residents it will cost Rs426,975.

https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/1090995193220947968

For those opting to avail qurbani services, the costs go up by Rs20,000 per category. Additionally, pilgrims are required to carry about 2,000 Saudi riyals, while travelling.

The Hajj expenditures have increased by over 60 per cent as compared to the last year. In 2018, Hajjis from the northern zone paid Rs280, 000 and from the southern zone Rs270, 000.

Applications to perform Hajj would be accepted from 20 February, and 60 per cent of the quota would be given to the government and the remaining 40 per cent quota granted to private Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs)

It was also decided that there will be one supervisor as Prime Minister Imran Khan will personally monitor the entire Hajj process.

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/council-of-islamic-ideology-validates-hajj-subsidy-payment/

The cabinet decided that people who have been unsuccessful for three consecutive years will also not be required to enter the draw. Under the Hajj policy, 10,000 seats would be reserved for senior citizens and people with 80 years of age and above will not need to enter a draw to perform Hajj.

According to Radio Pakistan, Information Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry stated that under the new policy direct Hajj flights will be launched from Quetta for the first time.

Regarding Hajj subsidy he said that meeting had ended with the decision "to provide maximum facilities to pilgrims and no decision was taken regarding a subsidy".

https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/hajj-expenditures-become-costlier-by-over-rs156000-senate-told/

The information minister said that the intending pilgrims will be provided biometric system facility at a local level to expedite the processing of Hajj applications.

He said a quota of 10,000 pilgrims has been reserved for elderly citizens while another portion of 500 Hujjaj has been fixed for low-income people.

It was for the first time that the Haj policy was not announced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs minister, instead, it was conveyed through a routine press conference held by the Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.