Hajj Policy 2020: Is Hajj in Pakistan far from reaching the common man?
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| GETTY IMAGES |
Hajj, which is a duty of worship and a religious desire, is now
becoming a dream. Like every year, the government has made Hajj very expensive
this year. '
It says that 61-year-old Umair Durrani, a resident of Rawalpindi who applied with his wife in the government Hajj scheme last year and intends to get Hajj this year.
He reacted to the government's announcement of Hajj Policy 2020, saying that 'the government has removed Hajj from the reach of the poor and middle class.'
Amir Durrani said that 'Last year, Hajj was also submitted, but if the name did not come then I thought nothing will go next year, but now it has been so expensive. But it looks very difficult. '
'We collect money all year long for Hajj, give some money to children, but still lose some money each time,' he explains.
'This year, my and my wife's Hajj fees have been reduced by at least Rs 40,000 per person and this increase is different which will have to be paid for going to Saudi Arabia due to the depreciation of the rupee,' he said.
It says that 61-year-old Umair Durrani, a resident of Rawalpindi who applied with his wife in the government Hajj scheme last year and intends to get Hajj this year.
He reacted to the government's announcement of Hajj Policy 2020, saying that 'the government has removed Hajj from the reach of the poor and middle class.'
Amir Durrani said that 'Last year, Hajj was also submitted, but if the name did not come then I thought nothing will go next year, but now it has been so expensive. But it looks very difficult. '
'We collect money all year long for Hajj, give some money to children, but still lose some money each time,' he explains.
'This year, my and my wife's Hajj fees have been reduced by at least Rs 40,000 per person and this increase is different which will have to be paid for going to Saudi Arabia due to the depreciation of the rupee,' he said.
They say, 'Tell me, how can a middle class person do Hajj? It
should be in the government's policy to cheapen the Hajj; if Saudi Arabia
increases the facilities there, the government can subsidize it, it can
subsidize everything else, so why not on Hajj? '
Amir Durrani has three sons and a daughter, three children are married while one son is still studying.
He said that even two years ago last year, the Hajj expenditure was almost half compared to today, but still no name, the government quota is very low.
'The second major issue of the government's Hajj policy is the quota of public pilgrims and private Hajj tour operators,' says Amir Durrani.
'Private Hajj operators are very expensive. They rob. Private pilgrimage last year was up to Rs 13 lakh, ordinary people cannot even think about it.'
In his view, the government should reduce this quota, giving 40% of private operators to poor people is only 20%. So that more and more middle-aged people can afford the pilgrimage. '
Amir Durrani has three sons and a daughter, three children are married while one son is still studying.
He said that even two years ago last year, the Hajj expenditure was almost half compared to today, but still no name, the government quota is very low.
'The second major issue of the government's Hajj policy is the quota of public pilgrims and private Hajj tour operators,' says Amir Durrani.
'Private Hajj operators are very expensive. They rob. Private pilgrimage last year was up to Rs 13 lakh, ordinary people cannot even think about it.'
In his view, the government should reduce this quota, giving 40% of private operators to poor people is only 20%. So that more and more middle-aged people can afford the pilgrimage. '
Who can afford Hajj?
Speaking to the BBC, chair of the Islamic Ideological Council Pakistan, Prof Dr Qibla Ayaz, said that according to Islamic orders, Hajj is obligatory on a person who can afford it.
He said, 'Sir, affordability is a very comprehensive term and it can be appreciated as to what its financial status is. During the obligatory Hajj, he has managed his family's finances and finances, is he able to afford the Hajj's travel expenses and it will not cause any problems to his dependents and he will be honored. Are able to stay away from such a person, Hajj is obligatory.
Responding to the question of who is the person in the country in the context of rising inflation in Pakistan and the current economic resources of the common man, Professor Qibla Ayaz said, 'Of course when inflation rises in the country and needs increase the cost of living in society.' The quality and the rank of the people who can afford it also increases. '
He said that the wisdom of the words used in the Qur'an is also that whatever the situation in different periods, one should decide whether he is in a position to pay the obligations of Hajj. What are the conditions that he fulfills? '
'The current inflation situation in the country has made the definition of affordability more difficult and high.'
Speaking to the BBC, chair of the Islamic Ideological Council Pakistan, Prof Dr Qibla Ayaz, said that according to Islamic orders, Hajj is obligatory on a person who can afford it.
He said, 'Sir, affordability is a very comprehensive term and it can be appreciated as to what its financial status is. During the obligatory Hajj, he has managed his family's finances and finances, is he able to afford the Hajj's travel expenses and it will not cause any problems to his dependents and he will be honored. Are able to stay away from such a person, Hajj is obligatory.
Responding to the question of who is the person in the country in the context of rising inflation in Pakistan and the current economic resources of the common man, Professor Qibla Ayaz said, 'Of course when inflation rises in the country and needs increase the cost of living in society.' The quality and the rank of the people who can afford it also increases. '
He said that the wisdom of the words used in the Qur'an is also that whatever the situation in different periods, one should decide whether he is in a position to pay the obligations of Hajj. What are the conditions that he fulfills? '
'The current inflation situation in the country has made the definition of affordability more difficult and high.'
Government Hajj Policy 2020
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| www.pid.gov.pk |
The government approved the Hajj Policy and Plan for 2020 this
week on February 11, under which Hajj expenditure has increased by almost 7.35%
over the previous year. After this year the pilgrimage will be four lakh 90
thousand.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said at a press conference with Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Assistant Prime Minister's Special Information and Broadcasting in Islamabad, that this year, one lakh 79 thousand 210 Pakistanis will go to Hajj this year.
It should be noted that last year, the Hajj expenditure was four lakh 56 thousand. While Saudi Arabia allowed 5,000 additional pilgrims under which one lakh 84 thousand 210 Pakistanis performed the Hajj.
Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri told the BBC that the specific Hajj quota for Pakistan in the year 2020 has been allotted to the public and private sector at the rate of 60:40. Sixty percent of the quota will be officially divided into forty percent of private tour operators.
He said that under the 'Road to Mecca' project of Saudi Arabia, this year, Pakistani pilgrims will be immigration to Pakistan. Last year, this facility was only for pilgrims traveling from Islamabad, but this time there will be an effort to provide this facility to travelers traveling from Lahore, Karachi and other cities.
On the increase in Hajj expenditure, the Federal Minister said that the main reason for this increase was the increase in Saudi airline fares, the decrease in currency prices.
He said that the government did not raise a single rupee by itself, but Saudi Arabia has mandated a few fees, which include 300 REAL visa fees and 110 REAL health insurance fees.
'The train fee in Mani has increased from 250 rials to 500 rials. Buildings rents have also increased in Mecca. ”
He said, 'We returned five and a half billion rupees last year to pilgrims.'
Under the Hajj Policy 2020, ten thousand snacks will be allocated for seniors over the age of 70.
Hajj will be granted to those persons who have not been able to get Hajj sabbatical in the last three years (2017, 2018 and 2019) unless they have received Hajj through private sector in those years.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said at a press conference with Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Assistant Prime Minister's Special Information and Broadcasting in Islamabad, that this year, one lakh 79 thousand 210 Pakistanis will go to Hajj this year.
It should be noted that last year, the Hajj expenditure was four lakh 56 thousand. While Saudi Arabia allowed 5,000 additional pilgrims under which one lakh 84 thousand 210 Pakistanis performed the Hajj.
Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri told the BBC that the specific Hajj quota for Pakistan in the year 2020 has been allotted to the public and private sector at the rate of 60:40. Sixty percent of the quota will be officially divided into forty percent of private tour operators.
He said that under the 'Road to Mecca' project of Saudi Arabia, this year, Pakistani pilgrims will be immigration to Pakistan. Last year, this facility was only for pilgrims traveling from Islamabad, but this time there will be an effort to provide this facility to travelers traveling from Lahore, Karachi and other cities.
On the increase in Hajj expenditure, the Federal Minister said that the main reason for this increase was the increase in Saudi airline fares, the decrease in currency prices.
He said that the government did not raise a single rupee by itself, but Saudi Arabia has mandated a few fees, which include 300 REAL visa fees and 110 REAL health insurance fees.
'The train fee in Mani has increased from 250 rials to 500 rials. Buildings rents have also increased in Mecca. ”
He said, 'We returned five and a half billion rupees last year to pilgrims.'
Under the Hajj Policy 2020, ten thousand snacks will be allocated for seniors over the age of 70.
Hajj will be granted to those persons who have not been able to get Hajj sabbatical in the last three years (2017, 2018 and 2019) unless they have received Hajj through private sector in those years.
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