Ministry of religious affairs to keep vigil on private Hajj packages

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has updated the monitoring mechanism to keep vigil on the Hajj Group Organisers' (HGOs) private package to ensure economy.

According to official sources, the existing monitoring section of the ministry has been equipped to keep private packages under strict check. The section is responsible to monitor private hajj packages and regulate HGOs.

The monitoring section has been assigned to ensure scrutiny of the documents, keep a proper record, ensure proper research and development systems and the proper implementation of the existing rules and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The ministry has also taken various other steps to minimise private Hajj packages. Each HGO is required to submit a five percent performance guarantee, while new HGOs will have to submit a ten percent guarantee to the ministry before Hajj.

The guarantee amount would be returned after Hajj on showing satisfactory performance and receiving no complaints from the private Hujjaj.

Each HGO is bound to sign an agreement with the individual Hujjaj regarding the facilities being offered in the package.

The ministry will act as a sole arbitrator and the decision of the ministry will be final in case of any dispute between the service provider and the Haji/Hujjaj.