Hajj scheme package may go up by Rs63,000

Senate panel directs ministry to persuade Saudi authorities to minimise taxes

ISLAMABAD: The cost of the government’s Hajj scheme package for the year 2020 is likely to increase by Rs63,000, a sub-panel of the Senate's Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was informed on Wednesday.

The subcommittee met with its convener Hafiz Abdul Karim in the chair.

Religious Affairs Secretary Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed told the committee that tentative Hajj package for next year would cost Rs489,575 as against Rs 436,975 for the year 2019.

The committee directed the ministry to keep the Hajj package to a minimum level and provide maximum facilities to the pilgrims.

It also directed the ministry to persuade Saudi authorities to minimise taxes, which would help reduce the cost of the package.

The committee was told that during the Hajj in 2019, 264 complaints of lost pilgrims, 981 of lost luggage, 174 regarding food and 244 about accommodation issues in Makkah and Madinah were received and addressed in due time.

The ministry’s officials said a Pak-Saudi Joint Rapid Response Committee had been constituted to promptly resolve the issues being confronted by the Pakistani pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

They added that Saudi Arabia would be requested to expand its Road to Makkah project -- which was launched at Islamabad airport last year -- to Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta as well.

The officials said the ministry had blacklisted five Hajj group organisers for violating agreements with their respective clients.

The committee directed the ministry to furnish complete details of actions taken against the organisers.

It also directed the ministry to negotiate with the Saudi government for reducing the rent of tents which currently stood at 200 Saudi riyals per day. The panel was informed that accidental insurance of 110 Saudi riyals – presently Rs500 -- was likely to be charged from each pilgrim from next year.

The officials said issues about food and accommodation were continuously being taken up with the Saudi authorities and would be improved in the Hajj 2020. Some companies have been blacklisted and pilgrims were refunded in cases where accommodation was given at relatively cheaper places.

The committee was also told that the maximum limit for a building rent in Makkah was 2,415 Saudi riyals and 1,050 Saudi riyals in Madina.

About 101 pilgrims, who were charged the maximum rent but were given accommodation at other places, had been compensated. An amount of Rs5.53 billion, on average RS 37,227 per pilgrim, had been refunded, the ministry officials said.

With additional input from APP