Cabinet greenlights new Hajj policy

ISLAMABAD:

The federal cabinet has greenlighted the Hajj Policy 2025, paving the way for 179,210 Pakistani nationals to perform Hajj next year. As per the policy, the Hajj quota will be split evenly between government and private schemes, according to a PM Office press release.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was told on Tuesday that selection under the government scheme will be made through a computerized balloting.

As per policy, 1,000 seats will be allocated for hardship cases and 300 for laborers and low-income employees registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution or Workers Welfare Fund. Those under 12 years of age will not be allowed to travel for Hajj.

Under the policy, the Road to Makkah facility will be available at Islamabad and Karachi international airports. The Hajj Group Organizers will sign a service provider agreement with the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The agreement will be strictly monitored.

A new portfolio of Nazim—administrator—has also been introduced to facilitate the pilgrims. One Nazim will be appointed for each 100 pilgrims, who will be selected from among the welfare staff.

Under the policy, the compensation for the heirs of the people, who die during Hajj, has been increased from Rs1 million to Rs2 million while those suffering injuries during the pilgrimage will get Rs1 million.

The cabinet members were told that a special Hajj Management App has been developed to facilitate pilgrims. Arrangements have been made for training pilgrims how to use the app.

The cabinet called for giving preference to people who could not succeed during last year's balloting. The meeting also stressed the need for taking all-out measures for the facilitation of pilgrims.

The cabinet appointed Saeed Iqbal, Moazzam Ahmed, Madiha Khalid, Usman Haider and Muhammad Sajjad Farouqui in the board of the Public Private Partnership Authority as private members.

On the Ministry of Finance's recommendation, the cabinet gave post facto approval to the agreement on transfer of the Foreign Commercial Financing Facility from London Interbank Offered Rate to Secured Overnight Financing Rate.

The meeting approved the Jammu and Kashmir Estate Property Budget for fiscal year 2024-25, besides endorsing an agreement between the Directorate General of Ports and Shipping Karachi and the Bahria Classification Society on the certification of the classification of ships.

Policy rate reduction

At the cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz Sharif lauding the policy rate reduction by the State Bank of Pakistan to 15%, said the government's economic stability measures are coming to fruition.

Shehbaz said a further two percent reduction of the policy rate was a pleasing development for business, agriculture, exports, and commerce sectors.

"The SBP has gradually reduced the policy rate from 22% to 15%, encouraging people to invest their money in the economy to create jobs, enhance production, and exports," he said.