Fewer pilgrims this year: Minister’s talk on Hajj interrupted

Private operators storm in to protest quota cut.

ISLAMABAD:

Owing to a 20 per cent global Hajj quota cut by Saudi Arabia due to Haram Sharif’s expansion, 1,43,368 Pakistanis would perform Hajj this year instead of 1,79,210, announced federal minister for religious affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf.

Though fewer pilgrims would be registered, all Pakistanis who have deposited dues this year would perform the religious obligation. “For better arrangements of pilgrims, we are in contact with the Saudi government who will make a committee in case any financial losses are accrued owing to a quota cut,” said the minister.

As per the current arrangement, the government has a 60 percent quota, while private operators now have a 40 percent quota, as opposed to earlier quotas of 50 percent each.



A number of private Hajj tour operators holding placards in their hands gathered on the premises of Pakistan Information Department to protest the slash in their quota.

Yousaf termed the protest of Private Hajj Tour Operators unreasonable, clarifying that the quota by Hajj Organiser Association of Pakistan (HOAP) was slashed as they had failed in booking the required number of pilgrims within the set deadlines.

The minister said that the government would bear losses of Rs120 million if the 50 percent quota cut is applied on equitable basis this year.

Hajj group organisers

The minister informed reporters that the religious ministry had already completed the booking process of government schemes intended for pilgrims.

He added that government had decided to cut the quota of Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) and that the cut will not cause losses to them.

He explained that the HGOs had been asked to submit details of their bookings by June 10 so that a policy of cutting the ratio of government and private scheme could be finalised.

“This date was even extended, but till June 18 HGOs had booked only 21,000 intending pilgrims. As of now, the HGOs have booked 43,749 intending pilgrims against their allocated quota of 57,000.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2013.