New Hajj Policy to be finalised in three months: NA told

ISLAMABAD: Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noor-ul-Haq Qadri on Wednesday apprised the National Assembly that policy about Hajj 2019 would be devised in three months.

Responding to a question during question hour, the minister said the process for formulation of Hajj Policy and Plan 2019 has been initiated.

He said decision regarding Hajj dues to be collected per Haji would be taken after consultation with all the stakeholders including the designated airlines in due course of time and the House would be informed accordingly.

Read More: Fresh five-year Hajj policy on the anvil, says religious affairs minister

Responding to another question, Noor Qadri said Prime Minister Imran Khan and his government were committed to develop Pakistan on the pattern of the State of Madina.

He said dialogue among various religious communities of Pakistan was vital for interfaith harmony in the country. He said the government was planning to organise an international interfaith harmony conference next year.

Earlier in a statement, Religious Affairs Minister Noor Qadri said that efforts were being made to increase Pakistan Hajj quota from the next year, as a large number of Hajj applications could not be entertained every year.

He said that the Saudi Arabia government’s formula for Hajj quota for the Muslim countries was one person per thousand people. He said the Saudi Arabia authorities would be contacted to increase Pakistan’s Hajj quota.

The minister stressed for training of Hajj pilgrims as it was necessary for performing all rituals of Hajj in a better way. He directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to make short movies about Hajj and release it on the social media to inform the people.