Hajj package falls short of expected sum

ISLAMABAD: The new Hajj package 2011 will be Rs7,000 less than the original Rs40,000 sum announced by the government. This was revealed during a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Wednesday.

Pakistan International Airlines has  also increased Hajj fares by Rs5,000 which brings the total fare to Rs84,000.

This year, the pilgrims will not be provided with 1,000 riyals as earlier practised by the Pakistani government. Instead, the Pilgrims will now have to buy Saudi currency from the open market.

Federal Minister Khursheed Shah informed the session that the draft for the new Hajj policy is underway. He said that the final draft would soon be presented to the cabinet for approval.

Earlier, Khursheed Shah had announced that the system of random draws for Hajj has been abolished.

Shah also informed that the applications for Hajj will be accepted from April 10 to April 30, 2011.

In light of a United Nations population report, Saudi Arabia has enhanced the quota of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims by 19,609 for 2011 – a year in which Islamabad will divide its pilgrims into two separate categories of “Green and White”.