New Hajj policy: Senate panel suggests shorter stay for pilgrims

Tour operators warned for violations.

ISLAMABAD:

Senate panel on religious affairs has recommended shortening of the obligatory 40-day stay for Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia by 10 days to ease the financial burden on less-affluent pilgrims next year.

Senator Zafarul Haq of the PML-N suggested pilgrims should be allowed to return home after a month to facilitate such applicants who had complained about the extra expense.

The religious affairs ministry will consider the recommendations for 2012 and decide whether to incorporate them in the new Hajj policy.

The senator, a member of the Senate standing committee on religious affairs was of the view that the policy should be revised considering that pilgrims from Iran, Malaysia, Iraq and other Muslim countries stay less than four weeks in Makkah and Madina for Hajj.”

Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani endorsed the suggestion since the 30-day stay would mean that every pilgrim would be able to save at least Rs25,000. Senator Saleh Shah, the panel’s chairman, directed Religious Affairs Secretary Shaukat Hayat Durrani to share his views at the next meeting. Shaukat Hayat informed the committee that 90,000 of the 180,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under government patronage.

As many as 540 doctors accompanied by two paramedics each would escort the pilgrims. Over 42,000 Khudamul Hujjaj will serve some 200,000 pilgrims from Pakistan, he added. Every pilgrim will have to pay around Rs240,000, including Rs84,000 for air fare to perform Hajj under the government scheme.

Responding to a question, the joint secretary Hajj informed the committee that the ministry has suspended the licences of three private companies, while Hajj quotas of 22 companies have been reduced after they were accused of committing violations.

The religious affairs ministry received complaints against over 100 private tour operators out of which 75 companies have been warned to comply with regulations, he added. Tour operators informed the committee that Pakistan International Airlines is charging an additional Rs10,000 from pilgrims who opt to sign up with them against those who applied directly with the government.  The committee has directed PIA officials to negotiate with tour operators to resolve the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2011.