More than 184,000 Pakistanis to perform Hajj this year — Minister

This file photo shows Pakistani pilgrims leaving for Hajj. (AFP)

Prime Minister Imran Khan federal cabinet meeting on Jan. 31, 2018 and the cabinet approved new Hajj policy. (Photo courtesy: PID)

• Cost of performing pilgrimage has increased by 60%
• Opposition parties lodge protest over hike in expenditure

ISLAMABAD: With more than 184,000 Pakistanis expected to perform Hajj this year, the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony stressed on Friday that only those with adequate financial means should perform the pilgrimage.
Talking to media persons, Noorul Haq Qadri said that the cost of performing Hajj increases every year due to an increase in prices.
“Prime Minister and cabinet members said during the meeting that Hajj is not mandatory for people who cannot afford it, so subsidies should instead by spent on improvement of education and health facilities,” Qadri said.
“Those for whom Hajj is mandatory should not be performing it on the taxpayers’ money,” he added.
According to the Hajj policy approved by the federal cabinet on Thursday, applications for Hajj will be accepted from February 20, while people aged 80 years and above will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage without entering the draw.
Under the policy, the government has reserved 10,000 seats for senior citizens looking to perform Hajj this year.
Imran Siddique, spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said that all necessary arrangements have been completed with thr relevant departments in Saudi Arabia.
“Best of the best facilities will be provided to Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia this year,” he told Arab News, adding that “we are thankful to Saudi authorities as well for helping Pakistan ensure the best facilities for our pilgrims.”
Providing a breakdown of the statistics, he said that a total of 1,07,026 Pakistanis will perform Hajj on the government’s quota while the remaining will be accommodated by private tour and Hajj operators.
The price of performing Hajj has increased by more than 60 percent as compared to last year, with expenses for the northern zone placed at Rs436,975 and those for the southern zone at Rs427,975. 
Ministry of Religious Affairs has divided the country into two zones to facilitate the pilgrims to fly to Saudi Arabia for Hajj from the nearest airport to their respective areas. The north zone includes Lahore, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan and Multan, while Karachi, Sukkur and Quetta make up the South zone.
The spokesperson added that the previous government had granted a subsidy of Rs45,000 ($323) per pilgrim to facilitate the people last year. However, this year the government has decided to discontinue the subsidy.