There will be no balloting for Hajj: 2011 policy approved by Cabinet

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved Haj Policy, 2011 and decided that application would be entertained on first-come-first-served basis instead of balloting system. Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Shah told media at a news conference along with Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan that the Cabinet meeting presided over by the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was given a detailed briefing on the salient feature of the Haj Policy 2011.
The minister said that scheduled banks would start receiving Haj applications from April 15 to May 10 and to facilitate the applicants special counters would be set up at all the branches of the scheduled banks throughout the country. The prime minister directed the ministry of religious affairs to take all stakeholders on board and launch awareness campaign to ensure transparency in the Haj operation and to properly inculcate awareness among the intending pilgrims about the arrangement.
The Cabinet meeting was informed that Saudi government had increased the quota of Pakistani pilgrims and this year about 19,609 more Hujjaj from Pakistan would be performing the Haj. With the enhancement in number, the Cabinet was told that as many as 179,256 people would perform Haj this year as compared to 159,547 last year.
The minister said that no balloting would be conducted and the intending pilgrims would be served on first come first served basis. There would be two schemes, ie government Haj scheme and Haj Group Organisers (HGOs). Out of the total allocation, 50 percent would be allocated to the government Haj scheme and 50 percent to private scheme.
The minister said PIA has agreed to Rs 72,000 airfare for the south zone and Rs 84,000 for the north zone. The Haj dues of white category would be Rs 200,847 for south zone and Rs 212,847 for north zone. Haj dues for green category will be Rs 210,047 for south zone and Rs 222,047 for north zone. The national airlines would lift the pilgrims in equal share under the Air Service Agreement (ASA) between the government of Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Accommodation Hiring Committee (AHC) of five people would hire the accommodation in Makkah and Madina. A committee of parliamentarians called "Haj Advisory Committee" would be involved in planning and management of Haj operation 2011 in Pakistan as well as in KSA. The new policy would be valid for the three years subject to adjustment to be made by the ministry of religious affairs and on account of Saudi "Taleemat" from time to time.
The minister said that in the new Haj policy, restriction has been imposed on person who have performed Haj during last five years and would only be eligible as 'Mehram', Group Leader or undertaking Haj-e-Badal. Khurshid Shah said the prime minister has accepted the resignation of law minister Dr Babar Awan and the Cabinet approved the resignation as he [Babar] has to plead the ZA Bhutto review petition before the Supreme Court.
Minister for Information, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan told media that the Cabinet was given a briefing by the Finance Division on inflation. According to Consumer Price Index (CPI), the minister said the meeting was informed that prices of wheat and oil in Pakistan are lowest as compared to prices in South Asia.
The minister said that the prime minister directed that efforts must be stepped up to control the prices of essential commodities and accessibility of consumer goods to common man and CPI be regularly placed before the Cabinet. The Cabinet was apprised that the prices of essential consumer items remained stable and Pakistan's exports increased by $2 billion in March. The meeting also approved a number of agreements and Memorandum of Understanding signed with various countries.
Dr Awan said that the Cabinet took stock of the status of implementation of its previous decisions pertaining to Defence, Economic Affairs and Environment Divisions. The Cabinet was informed that most of the pending decisions relating to these ministries are awaiting response from various other countries while some have to be referred to the Council of Common Interests following the 18th Amendment.