Hajj expenses up due to exchange rate, airfare: minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri on Wednesday blamed currency exchange rate and airfare for rise in Hajj expenses.

Noorul Haq Qadri said that the Hajj package was also affected by new taxes imposed by the Saudi Arabia’s government and added that total Rs157 thousands were increased in the Hajj expenses this year.

He said that despite the current rise in Hajj expenses, Pakistan government was offering a cheaper package as compare to India, Bangladesh, Iran and Malaysia.

The minister said that the government would facilitate 107,000 Hajj pilgrims this year and added that national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Saudi Airline and airblue would participate in the Hajj operation.

In 2018, the Hajj expenses for northern and southern regions of Pakistan were Rs. 280,000 and Rs. 270,000 respectively, whereas Rs. 13,050 were separately charged for the animal sacrifice.

While pilgrims to Makkah may be required to pay up to Rs 420,000 in the year 2019 for Hajj on government scheme.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on February 12, had said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government withdrew Hajj subsidy under compulsion, which resulted in an increase in Hajj expenses.

“I know that people save money throughout the year to perform Hajj. The government had to hike Hajj expenses under compulsion,” sources quoted the premier as saying while speaking to lawmakers from Rawalpindi division, who called on him at the PM House in Islamabad.

Defending the withdrawal of Hajj subsidy, he had said the Hajj cost rose by 35 per cent in Saudi Arabia too. “The government has to pay Rs6 billion on loans everyday,” he said.