Intending hujjaj laud ministry’s step of not increasing expenses

ISLAMABAD, Jun 14 (APP):The intending pilgrims belonging to middle class have lauded religious ministry’s praiseworthy step of not increasing government hajj scheme expenses despite a whooping increase of Rs 4.44 billion in
total expenses of Government Scheme Hajj 2018 as compared to last year.
The government has retained last year’s hajj expenses of Rs 270,000 (South) Rs 280,000 (North) bearing the extra expenses from government exchequer, said official sources in Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
The intending pilgrims, who are set to perform the sacred ceremony of Hajj under government scheme this year have lauded ministry’s huge relief to them.
Muhammad Siddique, an intending Haji told APP that the government has taken laudable step by not passing the increased hajj expenses to government scheme pilgrims.
He said receiving of a record number of 375,000 applications under the Government Scheme shows people’s trust and confidence over government Hajj scheme.
The expenditures of each Government Scheme Haji has increased by Rs 45,000 this year owing to various reasons including the increase in dollar, rupee parity ratio, said official sources of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. As many as 179,210 would perform the sacred ceremony of Hajj, out of which 67 percent (119,473) would perform under Government Hajj Scheme and 33 percent 59,737 under private Hajj scheme.
The ministry was conducting extensive training of intending pilgrims to enable them to perform the sacred religious ceremony.
The training also covers how to wear `Ahram’ and observe sanctity of the holy places besides performing rituals at Madina and manners of offering prayers at Masjid e Nabvi and `Salam’ at `Roza e Rasool (Peace Be Upon Him).”
The ministry has already devised an effective mechanism to monitor the Hajj operation. An advisory committee has almost also been set up to monitor the Hajj operation.
Effective measures have been taken by the ministry to register complaints during Hajj.
The training covers how to wear `Ahram’ and observe sanctity of the holy places besides performing rituals at Madina and manners of offering prayers at Masjid e Nabvi and `Salam’ at `Roza e Rasool (Peace Be Upon Him).”
All Hujjaj would be provided five litre Zam Zam in a specially packed bottle upon their return to Pakistan at the respective destinations.
The Hujjaj were being provided three times meal a day at their respective buildings in Makkah, Madinah and Mina.
All pilgrims male and female have been asked to affix a Pakistan flag at their `Ahrams’ for identification. Female pilgrims should carry at least two `Abayas’ preferably of black colour.
All pilgrims male and female should affix a Pakistan flag at their `Ahrams’ for identification. Female pilgrims should carry at least two `Abayas’ preferably of black colour.
The applicants could get information from Hajj Inquiry no 051-9205696; 051-9216980 and Hajj helpline no 042-111725425.