Religious affairs minister directs for best facilities to pilgrims in 2019

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Noor-ul-Qadri on Tuesday directed the officials to ensure best possible facilities to pilgrims in the new Hajj Policy 2019.

“The main aim of new Hajj Policy should be to facilitate Hujjaj,” he said while chairing a meeting at the ministry office.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mian Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed, Director General Hajj Dr Sajid Yousfani and directors of all departments of the ministry.

The minister directed the concerned authorities to get feedback in this regard from consultative workshops, social media and websites, said a press release.

He directed to chalk out a pre-Hajj comprehensive training programme for pilgrims. Social media should also be used to implement the programme, he said adding that the Hajj package 2019 would be improved further.

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Noor said open-sky policy would be tried next year to bring pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and return home to avoid Shaheen Air like experience during Hajj 2018.

“Efforts are underway to ensure immigration of Hujjaj back to Pakistan to save their time in Saudi Arabia. Hajj arrangement experiences of other countries would also be benefited next time,” he said.

Mian Muhammad Mushtaq said all possible efforts would be made to ensure provision of best facilities to pilgrims.

Dr Sajid Yousfani briefed the meeting about the arrangements of Hajj 2018. This year, 120 Hujjaj were died and 15 children were born during Hajj days, he said.