The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Friday called for strict monitoring of the private Hajj tour operators and directed the concerned ministry to control and monitor the operators limiting their profit margin within 10 percent. Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri presided over the committee huddle that also stressed the need for reduction in airfares for Hajj 2019 with a view to secure interests of the pilgrims and enable the common man to perform Hajj and Umrah.
The committee was comprehensively briefed on the Hajj Policy 2019 and Hajj expenses with particular reference to the recent increase made in Hajj dues.
The Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony ministry presented a brief report to the committee by explaining all aspects of the Hajj policy. The committee was informed that Hajj expenses increased due to depreciation of rupee and increase in airfare rates. The Hajj 2019 dues under Government Scheme 2019 are Rs436,975 and 426,975 for north and south, respectively. Qurbani charges are Rs19,451. Similarly airfares have also been increased from Rs93,000 to Rs110,000 for north and from Rs84,000 to Rs100,000 for south, due to rupee depreciation against the US dollar. The committee recommended that airfare should be reviewed so that common people can perform Hajj at cheaper rates.
It expressed concern over the increasing rates of private tour operators and directed the ministry to control and monitor as they are registered with the ministry.
On the Umrah policy, the committee was informed that the ministry does not regulate Umrah and at present the interested pilgrims directly approach different tour operators for that purpose. The ministry informed the committee about the steps being taken to regulate Umrah service. The ministry has drafted Hajj and Umrah Secure Management Bill 2019 to protect the interests of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
The meeting was attended by Senators Brig John Kenneth Williams (retd), Muhammad Yousaf Badini and Abida Muhammad Azeem, besides senior officers from the ministry.