ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government has announced a unique initiative, as it is going to make a second refund to the pilgrims who performed Hajj under the recent government scheme.
As per details, the government has decided to distribute Rs. 800 million, saved from hajj expenses, among 53,000 Hajj pilgrims.
The refund is being made from the savings on train fares and accommodation, officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs said. ------------------------------
This is a significant development as no previous government has even made a single refund in the past.
In its first refund policy, the ministry had returned Rs. 5 billion to the pilgrims, with each one receiving up to Rs. 58,000.
The refunds were due to cheap residential buildings and savings on transport and other expenditures in Saudi Arabia. ------------------------------
The initiative will be a massive confidence booster for the government as it had been under severe criticism for withdrawing subsidy on Hajj expenses.