Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved Hajj Policy 2017, in addition to lifting a moratorium on new gas connections and the execution of development schemes.

Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the religious affairs ministry to ensure that maximum facilities are provided to the intending pilgrims.

According to the Hajj Package 2017, Pakistan’s hajj quota — which had been reduced to 143,368 in year 2013 — has been restored to 179,210, while the Saudi Hajj Ministry has been requested to enhance Pakistan’s quota by at least 15,000 on the basis of the current population of the country.

The process of issuing tenders for the accommodation, transport, catering and other allied facilities for pilgrims has already been initiated.

According to the document, the following services will be provided to Pakistani pilgrims this year: express clearance services at Jeddah and Madina airports; modern buses to transport pilgrims from the airport to their residences; provision of 100 per cent accommodation in markazia in Madina; provision of cooked meals three times a day in Mashair (Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah); provision of filtered water and effective cooling systems in each maktab in Mina; provision of fireproof tents at Arafat and separate washrooms for disabled pilgrims in Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat.

The hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims is expected to be divided in a 60/40 ratio between the government and private hajj operators. In case Pakistan’s request for an increase in quota is approved by Saudi Arabia, it will also be divided between the government and private hajj operators.

The quota for private operators will be allocated to existing quota holders to ensure smooth operations.

According to additional proposals for hajj quota, applicants who have performed hajj during the last seven years will not be eligible to apply under the government scheme. Similarly, for private hajj schemes, the limit may be restricted to the last five years. Hajj-e-Badal will be allowed through private hajj operators only. The ‘hardship quota’ in the hajj scheme has been abolished. The airfare of Rs 95,000 (North) and Rs 86,000 (South) of 2016 will be maintained this year.

The cabinet also approved a policy to outsource the management of the country’s three major airports along the lines of a public-private partnership.

“This is the policy that was approved by the Civil Aviation Authority in 2015,” Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said while briefing the media following the cabinet meeting.

The federal cabinet lifted moratorium on new gas connections, following a green signal from the Cabinet Committee on Energy. The cabinet also approved execution of gas development schemes, initiated during the present government.