Religious affairs minister promises support to private tour operators

Payment deposited by the pilgrims will be returned to both the parties equally, says Chairman Hajj Tour Operator.

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Muhammad Aminul Hasnat has promised to do as private Hajj tour operators demand because their pilgrims are same as the government pilgrims, said the Chairman Hajj Tour Operator Zohaid Iqbal.

While talking to the media in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said that the State Minister Aminul Hasnat agreed with their stance and “it will make us happy if they implement what they said”.

Commenting on the 20% cut in the Hajj quota by Saudi Arabia, he said, “The payment that was deposited will be returned to us as well as the ministry equally.”

He said that Hajj tour operators meeting with state minister for religious affairs on Wednesday ended really well and they were looking forward to their next meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday.

He thanked the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for realising the importance of the issue and making a committee to resolve it. He also thanked the media for highlighting the concerns of the private Hajj tour operators.

The important decision regarding the pilgrims and negotiations will be made in the next meeting, he said.

Owing to a 20 per cent global Hajj quota cut by Saudi Arabia due to Haram Sharif’s expansion, 1,43,368 Pakistanis would perform Hajj this year instead of 1,79,210, Federal Minister For Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf had announced on Tuesday.

As per the current arrangement, the government got a 60 percent quota, while private operators now have a 40 percent quota, as opposed to earlier quotas of 50 percent each.