Fawad justifies scrapping Hajj subsidy

Information minister says people who don’t know where their mosques were are worried about subsidy

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has said increase in the Hajj expenses is inevitable owing to surge in Hajj taxes and other expenses by Saudi Arabia.

“I am pleased to see people, who do not know even the location of mosque in their areas, are worried over Hajj subsidy,” said Fawad in a tweet on Sunday while responding to criticism over the government’s decision to slash the subsidy.

While responding to a tweet by former finance minister Miftah Ismail, he said Miftah is a genius and he is happy to note his emotions regarding increased Hajj expenses.



Meanwhile, the information minister has announced the first phase of Sehat Card Scheme is being launched from today (Monday).

After attending the provincial cabinet meeting here, he highlighted that under the scheme, free healthcare facilities worth Rs0.7 to Rs0.9 million will be provided to deserving and poor strata of society.

Fawad said Prime Minister Imran Khan had expressed solidarity with the families of the victims of Sahiwal tragedy, in which four people were killed in a police encounter. He said the prime minister had assured justice would be provided to the families of the victims and people responsible for the incident would be given exemplary punishment.

Information minister indicated matters pertaining to governance and police reforms in Punjab were also discussed during various meetings chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on Sunday. “People will soon witness changes in Punjab regarding improvement of governance in the province,” he maintained.

Fawad also said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari are either going to spend their coming days in prison or in London. “These two had ruled for decades and now are asking to be sent to London, which is shameful.”

About media strategy, the information minister said, “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) social media was being revived.”

He said the government was aware of working journalists’ problems and would fully support them in getting their issues resolved with their respective media houses. He highlighted the prime minister had advised him to hold meetings with media owners to sort out things in an amicable way.

To a question, the minister said there is no rift between Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) and the PTI as both parties would work in the best interest of the country.