ISLAMABAD – The Government Hajj Scheme package is most likely to go upsignificantly due to various reasons including increase in dollar-rupeeparity ratio, overall inflation and possible withdrawal of subsidy.According to official sources, the subsidy paid to government schemepilgrims by the federal government last year, was likely to be withdrawnthis year. The Hajj package of government scheme is likely to hover betweenRs380,000 to 420,000 per pilgrim.
Ministry has sought subsidy of Rs40,000 for each Government Scheme Haji. Incase of availability of subsidy, the government Hajj package would bearound Rs380,000 and in case of discontinuation of subsidy, the governmentHajj package would be Rs420,000.The sources said that the new Hajj policy could be announced on January 20after approval of the federal cabinet. The applications for performing Hajjunder Government Hajj Scheme would be invited from the general publicJanuary 20, 2019.
This year over 184,210 Pakistanis would perform Hajj, the source saidadding that according to Hajj agreement inked between Pakistan and SaudiArabia last year, the immigration and other formalities of 35,000 intendingHujjaj from Sindh will be completed at Karachi airport.The ministry was contemplating to retain the quota for government andprivate Hajj operators by 60:40 respectively, source said adding that theministry has proposed open sky policy for airlines to transport Hujjaj toSaudi Arabia. The Hajj dues of the applicants would be kept in ShariaComplaint remunerative accounts. Pakistanis will be given E-visas.The hajj days during 2019 might be cut down from existing 40 to 30 days.Food facilities for pilgrims would be improved further. Hujjaj, whoperformed Hajj during last seven to ten years could be banned fromsubmitting applications. Pilgrims of over 75 years of age could be exemptedfrom participating in Hajj balloting.
The Hajj dues of the applicants would be kept in Sharia Complaintremunerative accounts. Pakistanis will be given E-visas. The Hujjaj, whoperformed Hajj during last seven to ten years could be banned fromsubmitting applications. Pilgrims of over 75 years of age could be exemptedfrom participating in Hajj balloting.The additional 5,000 quota would be distributed among newly enrolled HajjGroup Organisers (HGOs). The quota of old HGOs would not be increased ordecreased. Quota would be given to 80 or 100 new companies.
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The source also informed that the ministry had already asked the Saudiauthorities for increasing the Hajj quota for Pakistanis from 20,000 to30,000.
Meanwhile,Association of Pakistan Enrolled Companies (AEPC),KhyberPakhtunkhwa, has claimed filing a writ petition in Supreme Court ofPakistan, on what they said discrimination in the allotment of quota to newhajj group organisers.
