No class boundaries: Uniform category for all pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: This year Haj pilgrims are likely to perform their sacred religious obligation under a uniform category as ministry officials are poring over plans to scrap the existing three categories. An official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony told APP that the intending pilgrims would be provided uniform transport and residential services and the existing three categories would be scrapped. The official said the ministry has started preparing Hajj policy 2014, and the agreement would be inked with Saudi Arabia this month. The number of Pakistani pilgrims is likely to remain 143,368 as the maintenance of Harm Sharif still continues.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2014.