PTI govt likely to restore MPs’ Hajj quota

This year 2,000 pilgrims may go to pilgrimage on lawmakers’ recommendation

ISLAMABAD: In a major reversal of policy, the PTI led federal government has decided to restore lawmakers’ quota in government Hajj scheme. This decision is part of the Hajj Policy 2020 which will be tabled for the federal cabinet’s approval today (Tuesday).

According to official documents, this year 2,000 pilgrims will go to the pilgrimage on recommendation of the MPs. The PPP led government in June 2009 abolished the Hajj quota of all parliamentarians, including the president and the prime minister, in order to ‘provide equal chance’ to every aspirant.

However, the new policy recommends that a quota of 2,000 people be allocated to the federal minister for religious affairs – to be given to deserving people on recommendation of lawmakers. Interestingly, the PTI government had earlier announced that Hajj applications would be processed on the merit.

The cost of government Hajj package this year will be Rs550,000 – around Rs130,000 more than the cost of Hajj in 2019. This year, 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj.

Forty per cent (40%) of the Hajj quota will be given to the private Hajj operators. Those who have failed in the draw for the last three years will be selected without a draw.

According to the Hajj policy, a quota of 10,000 has been allocated for citizens of over 70 years of age. For the first time, a quota of 1,000 people has been allocated for overseas Pakistanis.

1.5 per cent of the government's Hajj scheme has been allocated for hardship case. This makes up about 2,700 people. A quota of 500 people has been earmarked for low-income employees of private companies affiliated with the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI).

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said the official Hajj scheme will be based on computerized draw. The presence of a mehram – a male blood relative – will be mandatory for female applicants.

According to the Hajj policy, requests for Hajj Badal and Nafli Hajj will also be accepted for people who have not performed Hajj using the government scheme in the last five years. Each pilgrim will be provided five liters of Ab-e-Zamzam, the water from a sacred well in Makkah.

The Hajjaj Muhafiz Scheme will continue this year as well.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said private companies will be allotted Hajj quota in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision. New companies will be given 2% quota of the quota of private companies.

If Saudi Arabia gives additional quota, the quota of private companies will not be reduced. Selection of Hajj Medical Mission and Moawneen–e-Hajjaj – helpers of the pilgrims – will be in accordance with the default procedure.

Talks with Saudi officials are under way to include Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta airports in the Road to Makkah project. Joint committees comprising Pakistan Hajj Mission and Saudi authorities have been set up to facilitate pilgrims.