Pakistan says offering ‘most cost-effective’ Hajj package in region

ISLAMABAD: Zia-ur-Rehman, the director of the Pakistan Hajj Mission in Madinah, has said the government was offering its citizens the ‘most cost-effective’ Hajj package among regional countries through its official scheme, state media reported on Thursday.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which 63,805 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme while the rest will use private tour operators. This year’s Hajj is expected to run from June 14-19.
“This [Pakistan] package is priced at 14,300 Saudi Riyals, which includes meals, whereas comparatively neighboring India’s package costs 15,000 Saudi Riyals without meals,” Rehman said in an interview with the APP news agency.
“This price difference highlights the efforts of the Pakistani government to make the Hajj pilgrimage more accessible and affordable for its citizens. The package duration is 40 days, and there is a minimum expense of 1,400 Riyals per pilgrim.”
Rehman said the Pakistan Hajj Mission had made “elaborate food arrangements” for intending pilgrims who would perform Hajj under the government scheme and were currently staying in Madinah.
Seven top catering companies operating in Madinah had been selected to provide three meals a day to the guests after a competitive bidding process which 29 companies took part in.
“The hiring process, initiated in November last year following approval from the federal cabinet, was completed in due course of time, ensuring quality food and hygiene standards at a rate of 35 Saudi Riyal per person,” Rehman said.
“Designated officials have been deployed in the kitchens of the catering companies to closely monitor the entire process, from storing meals to transporting food in refrigerated units for distribution to pilgrims at their residences, under close scrutiny.”
Pakistan’s religion ministry has confirmed that over 15,000 pilgrims from the country had already arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage since a Hajj flight operation started on May 9. The government has also set up two control rooms, one each in Makkah and Madinah, to facilitate pilgrims.