Government Aims To Decrease The Count Of Private Hajj Organizers
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Islamabad – The interim Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmad, revealed on Friday that Saudi Arabia’s government aimed to reduce the number of private Hajj tour operators.
Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Minister Ahmad noted that currently, Pakistan had 901 Hajj operators, but Saudi Arabia intended to decrease this figure to 200 for better organization.
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These remarks followed a recent meeting chaired by the minister to discuss the future of the Private Hajj Scheme. The primary concerns raised during the meeting revolved around the services provided by Saudi companies, the sponsorship Hajj scheme, service visas, and other Hajj-related issues.
Minister Aneeq Ahmad emphasized the importance of private Hajj companies complying with Saudi Arabia’s directives regarding the allocation of Hajj quotas. He mentioned that Saudi authorities had suggested reducing the number of Hajj companies, with a recommended range of 2,000 to 3,000 pilgrims per company.
Additionally, the caretaker minister instructed private Hajj companies to submit sponsorship fee details well in advance of the deadline. He stressed the need for improved monitoring and effective complaint handling to enhance the overall Hajj pilgrimage experience, while also acknowledging the commendable services offered by most private Hajj group operators.
Participants were informed that a total of 901 Hajj companies were registered under the Private Hajj Scheme, with corrective measures necessary as 102 companies had failed to upload the required data on the Ministry’s portal.
It’s worth noting that in July, the former Minister for Religious Affairs, Talha Mehmood, had announced that all intending pilgrims going for Hajj in 2024 would be required to pay their expenses in US dollars rather than Pakistani rupees, though no progress had been made on this matter by the religious affairs ministry.
