The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs has recommended that balloting for selection of Haj pilgrims be done away with and selection be made from applicants on 'first come, first served basis'. The committee, which met in Parliament House here on Monday under the chairmanship of Senator Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, appreciated the government's decision to include the column of religion in the passport form and suggested that passports already issued be taken back and new passports be issued.
The committee made these recommendations while discussing the problems and difficulties faced by the people who performed Haj this year.
Minister for Religious Affairs, Ijaz-ul-Haq informed the committee that 150,000 Pakistanis performed Haj this year out of which arrangements for accommodating 95,000 Pakistani Hujjaj were made under the government's scheme.
He informed the committee that 244 buildings were hired in Green category which were located at a distance of 800 meters whereas 180 buildings were hired in white category which were at a distance of not more than 1,300 meters.
The minister informed the committee that the buildings hired by the Ministry were allocated to the Haj pilgrims after carrying out a ballot with a view to ensure that no favouritism is done.
In reply to a question, the minister stated that 270 doctors and paramedics were deputed to Saudi Arabia who performed their duties to the entire satisfaction of the Haj pilgrims.
He assured the committee that the valuable suggestions put forward by the members would be given due consideration to ensure improvement in the procedure.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Maulana Sami-ul-Haq said that Haj and Umra were religious obligations of the Muslims and it was incumbent upon the members to remove or at least minimise the difficulties being faced by Hajis.
He called upon the officials of the ministry to perform their duties with commitment and dedication.
The members of the committee said that the administrative arrangements were satisfactory. However, it was suggested that a monitoring committee be sent to Saudi Arabia during Haj season to supervise the Haj arrangements and also to provide guidance to the authorities.
The committee suggested that buildings be hired close to Haram Sharif and patients and old Hujjaj be accommodated there.
The meeting was attended, besides the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Maulana Sami-ul-Haq by Senators Asif Jatoi, Engineer Rashid Shined Khan, Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri, Abdul Latif Ansari, Syed Hidayatullah Shah and Maulvi Agha Mohammad.
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