NA panel rejects Hajj Policy 2019

Recommends giving subsidy or waiving off taxes imposed on pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Wednesday recommended giving subsidy to the government hajj scheme applicants or withdrawing taxes imposed on Pakistani hujjaj to provide relief to intending pilgrims.

Briefing the media after conclusion of in-camera meeting, Committee Chairman Maulana Asad Mehmood said the committee has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide immediate relief to intending pilgrims.

Maulana Asad asked the minister to again forward the subsidy recommendation to the federal cabinet and the prime minister for sympathetic consideration.

Maulana Asad Mehmood said the committee rejected the Hajj Policy 2019 as 150,000 increase in one go was unacceptable and government should review it.

The committee recommended accommodating all applicants who had failed to secure berth in the Government Hajj Scheme in the last three attempts made in 2016, 2017 and 2018.



The minister assured accommodating 10,000 such applicants as the quota of 10,000 has been reserved for them however if number of applicants exceed the allocated quota, the lucky aspirants would be selected through balloting.

Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Secretary Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed assured the committee of incorporating all recommendations in the next Hajj Policy 2020, saying he is unable to change current Hajj policy 2019 due to approval from the federal cabinet.

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr Noor-ul-Haq Qadri asked the chairman to write Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to withdraw taxes on intending pilgrims.

Raja Riaz, a member of the committee opposed providing subsidy recommendation.

With additional input from APP