Price of pilgrimage: Law to regulate Umrah operators on anvil

At present there is no fixed rate to charge people going to holy sites

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to tighten the noose around unbridled Umrah operators, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has finalised a draft legislation to regulate their working in the country.

At present, private travel operators are registered with the tourism department of the respective province. However, the religious affairs ministry has decided to regulate Umrah tour operators and proposed imprisonment for violating terms of their contracts with people, Joint Secretary (Umrah) Iftikhar Uddin told The Express Tribune.



Umrah has become a lucrative business in the country because millions of pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia throughout the year to perform religious rites. But there is no fixed rate at which to charge people intending to perform religious rites and every Umrah operator has been charging people according to its devised rate. However, after the legislation the rate would be fixed, said the official who is privy to the development. The draft also recommended different penalties -- including cancellation of licences for lifetime and different imprisonment under the Pakistan Penal Code.

“We have sent the draft to the cabinet division for final approval. Later it will be sent to parliament for legislation,” said the official who played a key role in drafting the law.

According to the official, the major complaint against private tour operators is accommodation. There are reports that Umrah operators misguide pilgrims and do not provide them the accommodation they promised. In addition, complaints regarding substandard food and inadequate transport facilities are also rampant.

The Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), however, has opposed the government’s move, saying that the ministry has no mandate to regulate their operations.

TAAP Secretary-General Khadim Rasool told The Express Tribune that travel agents are registered with the tourism department which is already regulating the operators under the Travel Act, 1976.



When told that the ministry has received many complaints against different tour operators for overcharging and lack of facilities, Rasool denied it, saying lack of awareness is the reason.

He said every tour operator provides complete facilities. According to him, 0.8 million pilgrims performed Umrah last year and TAAP has registered 1,500 tour operators that are functioning legally.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2016.