Cabinet decides against providing Hajj subsidy

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan presided over the meeting.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The federal cabinet on Thursday while approving the Hajj policy decided against providing subsidy to the people.

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan presided over the meeting.

According to new policy, the Hajj expenses for southern areas will be Rs4,26,000 which was Rs2,70,000 last year.

Besides this Rs1,56,000 raise has been made in the Hajj expenses of northern areas taking it to a total of Rs4,36,000 from Rs2,80,000.

A detailed discussion was held over the matter. Finance Ministry adopted stance that the economical situation do not allow to provide the subsidy while Religious Affairs Ministry maintained that Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has already ruled in favor of subsidy.

“Non-provision of subsidy will attract public criticism,” added the religious ministry.

Finance Ministry told that Rs8.15 billion will have to be given as subsidy in government Hajj Scheme and if provided under private scheme, the financial burden will rose till Rs14 billion.

Information Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain while briefing media about important decisions of the cabinet told that under the new policy direct Hajj flights will be launched from Quetta for the first time.

"The intending pilgrims will be provided biometric system facility at local level to expedite the processing of Hajj applications. About 1, 84, 000 Pakistani pilgrims will have the opportunity to perform Hajj this year," the minister asserted.

He informed that a quota of 10,000 pilgrims has been reserved for elderly citizens while another portion of 500 Hujjaj has been fixed for low income people.

The cabinet has also approved granting visa-on-arrival facilities to foreigners of many countries. It expressed satisfaction over the briefing given by interior secretary concerning flexibility in the new visa policy.

According to details, Pakistan will now launch electronic visa on arrival (E-VOA) facility for passengers from many countries and will relax visa policies for 175 countries.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain decalred that citizens of 98 countries can take advantage of business visa facility. He assured that journalist visa for Pakistan will be made easy.

Foreigners will need to apply online for getting E-VOA. 

Regarding foreign policy initiatives, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the PTI Government has changed the direction of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy in the best interest of people.

He said relationship and the United States are on upward trajectory while situation in Afghanistan is improving.

The Minister announced that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Suleman will be visiting Pakistan soon. 

Fawad told that a supplementary grant has been approved for Prime Minister’s Youth Training Programme.

He said Karachi Infrastructure Development Company will now be function under Cabinet Division whereas Prime Minister Imran Khan will directly monitor the development activities in the port city.