ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has asked private Hajj operators to give suggestions regarding the improvement of Hajj operations and the implementation of new Saudi instructions regarding reduction in the number of pilgrims for each company, a spokesperson for the ministry said on Tuesday.
The development came at a meeting between Caretaker Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed and a delegation of the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) which was also attended by the religious affairs secretary and other officials of the ministry.
Pakistan has been assigned a quota of 179,210 pilgrims in advance by the Saudi authorities for next year’s Hajj and the country is currently pondering over an early start of the Hajj process for better management, according to the ministry. Private tour operators have been given 60 percent of the pilgrim quota, while 40 percent will travel under the government scheme.
“The religious affairs minister asked the delegation of private Hajj operators to provide suggestions regarding the betterment of the pilgrimage and also for the implementation of the new Saudi instructions to restrict pilgrims’ number for each company between 2,000 and 3,000,” Muhammad Umer Butt, a spokesperson of the religious affairs ministry, told Arab News.
“HOAP representatives assured that they will present their proposals on the cluster of Hajj companies according to the new Saudi instructions.”
During the meeting, he said, various issues were discussed, including the facilities provided by Saudi companies during the pilgrimage, the sponsorship Hajj scheme and service visas.
“The minister said services of the most private Hajj group operators are exemplary and any suggestions for the improvement of the pilgrimage will be welcomed,” the spokesperson said, adding that 901 Hajj companies were currently registered with the ministry.
Muhammad Sanaullah Ahmed, senior vice-chairman of HOAP, said Saudi Arabia’s expansion of companies working with Hajj operators in South Asia had increased competition, leading to improved facilities for the pilgrims.
“A system has been established by the Saudi authorities and is accessible to the common people visiting the Kingdom for Umrah and Hajj,” he told Arab News.
Due to the presence of over 900 operators, Ahmed said, there was a healthy competition in Pakistan to provide better services to pilgrims on affordable rates.
“Secondly, there are approximately 60,000 to 65,000 families whose livelihoods depend on these companies,” he said, adding HOAP was actively working to present its suggestions regarding the new Saudi guidelines in the next few days.
