Ministry of Religious Affairs is making all-out efforts to ensure maximum facilities to intending Hujjaj and is considering to reduce Hajj expenses by Rs 36,000 per pilgrim for the year 2011. "Efforts are on to curtail Hajj expenses from Rs 236,000 to Rs 200,000 per pilgrim, under the government scheme," sources in the Ministry told APP.
The ministry is taking a number of steps to ensure provision of maximum facilities to pilgrims, keeping in view the difficulties faced by Hujjaj during previous years. The services of those Pakistanis, who are already in Saudi Arabia would be hired as Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj and their number would be increased from 400 to 800.
Previously Khuddam were being paid 70 Saudi riyals for their services but now they will get 100 riyals. A committee has also been formed to conduct interviews from those Pakistanis who are already present at the Holy Land. Besides, the services of the Urdu-speaking drivers would be hired to resolve transportation problems of Hujjaj in Saudi Arabia.
The Ministry would start receiving Hajj applications from April 10 with a renewed pledge to provide maximum facilities to intending pilgrims and ensure flawless arrangements for Hajj-2011. The applications are being sought almost six months before the commencement of pre-Hajj flight operations, which would be received through the designated bank branches of Allied Bank Limited, Habib Bank Limited, Muslim Commercial Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, United Bank Limited and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited.
This year, Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurhseed Ahmed Shah would supervise the entire Hajj operation to ensure transparent and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. No application form would be entertained without the machine readable passport (MRP).