Saudi thinks govt should hand Haj operations over to private tour operators: Noorul Haq Qadri
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Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr Noorul Haq Qadri has said he anticipates a further hike in Haj expenses over the next few years alongside the gradual handing over of Haj operations to private tour operators.
In an appearance on Geo News programme, Geo Parliament, the Minister for Religious Affairs explained that Saudi authorities, as per their Haj policy, want the government to encourage citizens to opt more for private tour operators because "in the future, they believe that we should hand over Haj operations entirely to private tour operators".
His statement comes on the back of a cabinet-approved 63 per cent increase in the cost of Haj which was met with backlash. State Minister Ali Mohammad Khan has held Saudi authorities responsible for the increase in Haj expenses, saying that 70pc of Haj expenses are incurred in Saudi Arabia.
Under the Haj Policy 2019, the cost of performing the pilgrimage under the government scheme was fixed at Rs456,426 (with Qurbani), against last year’s expense of Rs280,000 per person. Now, every individual will have to pay an additional Rs176,426.
Take a look: Cabinet approves 63pc increase in Haj cost
The existing Haj quota is 60pc for the government scheme and 40pc for private Haj tour operators.
Qadri, when questioned about the time frame for implementing a change in the quota, said that the Saudi government wants to do it "through a process".
"As soon as possible, [they] first want every country to [change the quota] to 50pc, then 60pc [for private operators], then 70pc," Qadri added.
Under the quota of 184,000 pilgrims given this year to Pakistan by the government of Saudi Arabia, 10,000 senior citizens are expected to perform Haj.
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On DawnNews
Feb 10, 2019 04:32pm
Whatever Saudis think is not always right and true.
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Feb 10, 2019 04:56pm
Using Haj, Saudi is earning money like anything; even not sparing people from poor countries. This is something Imran Khan should raise with the King. Hoping that he will listen.
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Feb 10, 2019 05:00pm
So its business, tourism over pilgrimage.
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Feb 10, 2019 05:05pm
That will increase prices ridiculously higher as private operators will be motivated by profit - not a bad thing but the poor may be priced out.
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Feb 10, 2019 05:08pm
Haj is obligatory for those who are free of debts while we as a nation are buried in debts...
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Feb 10, 2019 05:22pm
Yes, Government has nothing to do with religious duties, Haj and other related visits be with private sector, with licenses to operate, but Government must listen complains, revoke the licenses and punish the frauds.
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Feb 10, 2019 05:28pm
Government is making bold decession
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Feb 10, 2019 06:25pm
Government should have no role in Haj.
I can’t believe all political point scoring in Haj subsidy.
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Feb 10, 2019 06:28pm
First you need keep hold of private hajj operators, make some policies and make them abide by those policies, otherwise they will make life miserable for the common people.
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Feb 10, 2019 06:45pm
The Saudi should know...this will discourage people from Hajj... A very important tenant of Islam.
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Feb 10, 2019 07:01pm
Even Britsh empire and india used to give subsidy to hajj. It is more than regret that our govt looks Hajj as a mean of earning. Turkey and Iran give huge subsidies to their people performing Hajj. Saudis are making money out of this ritual are not the best example to rip off our own people by allowing private tour operators.
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Feb 10, 2019 07:02pm
Hand Over hajj operation to private operators but make sure their services adhere to specified standards and prevent monopoly/cartel formation
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Feb 10, 2019 07:10pm
A very sensible suggestion. Government should decide policy, and keep vigilance for any unacceptable behaviour. Whereas the actual businesses should be done privately, within reason.
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Feb 10, 2019 07:12pm
In recent years saudia has turned haj and umra into big business. A country in huge debt like Pakistan should not give too much subsidies.
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Feb 10, 2019 07:14pm
Yes, please!
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Feb 10, 2019 07:16pm
The exchange rate of dollars from 100 to 140 will itself increase price to 40%. Plus adding new taxes and price hike in saudia will push up the prices.
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Feb 10, 2019 07:46pm
How will the relatives of the high and mighty people perform Haj? No way they could be made to cough up their own dough for the pilgrimage. For that purpose only if for none other, governmental quota allocations are necessary.
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Feb 10, 2019 08:00pm
Brilliant thinking by Saudis...private operators means...it would be easier to skim more money for Saudi elite!
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Feb 10, 2019 08:04pm
Three billion dollars don’t come free. There has to be a way to pay those back
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Feb 10, 2019 08:37pm
So the Saudis are going to dictate your Haj policies ? Why not say that you want to share some money out of the loot !
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Feb 10, 2019 08:55pm
@Shah, There should not be any subsidies for Haj, It should be performed by own resources I.e., hard and honestly earned money - No breibes, not stolen money.
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Feb 10, 2019 09:08pm
Government needs to not only get out of the Haj business but also from the business of religion completely. There should be no ministry of religious affairs as per Jinnah’s vision. Let the people and the private sector deal with it .
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Feb 10, 2019 09:19pm
It is not govt responsibility to send people on hajj. It is the religious obligation for those who could afford it.
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Feb 10, 2019 09:25pm
For social justice for everybody haj has to be performed at one's own expenses without any subsidy from the government.
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Feb 10, 2019 09:47pm
Hajj is an obligation on an individual who can afford. The government has no role in it. Leave it to an individual to organise how he will perform Hajj. The government should provide a policy framework to oversee the sector.
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Feb 10, 2019 10:20pm
Saudi govt need money. They want hajj the most expensive .Time for muslim world to control Mecca and Madina jointly.
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Feb 10, 2019 10:24pm
State must not have anything to do with religion.
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Feb 11, 2019 01:38am
Including the major hospitality industry (hotels)?
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Feb 11, 2019 01:49am
Guess they feel from PPP and PML-N days, the government operators are too corrupt.
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Feb 11, 2019 05:16am
Saudi’s should adapt their own suggestions to set a good example, but the Saudi’s will never give up that role, there’s billions involved yearly. Why would they suggest that to the Pakistanis ?
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Feb 11, 2019 05:34am
@Mahesh, Mind your own business !
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Feb 11, 2019 06:21am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, neither is whatever they say.
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Feb 11, 2019 06:38am
Government s never succeed in business any where in the world.
Privitize all including PIA
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Feb 11, 2019 07:02am
That will be a straight route to profit making for Pakistani Pvt. companies as well as Saudis from haj. This is the same principle they have put forward for Muslim living in foreign countries like US where for this year 2019 the haj would cost $12000,00 for each person. Those who are proposing this are forgetting it would become almost impossible for the poor or who are less privileged to perform haj.
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Feb 11, 2019 09:17am
blaming it on the Govt would be wrong. ....
it is true. the cost of Hajj is going up and up for the last few years. the cost is mainly in S.Arab not out side it. the accommodation, the taxes etc are the reason. sadly the govt of S.Arab should be making it cheaper for people to do Hajj but instead the hotels around the Kabah are a prime example of how they've turned this into a profitable business. they are looking past oil now !
even Hajj from western countries is becoming a dream now..in the past it was affordable but now its going beyond reach
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Feb 11, 2019 09:25am
Hajj expenses are becoming unreachable for poor in Pakistan and now only Elite class can afford it.
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Feb 11, 2019 09:41am
@Ahmed bin Babar, PTI on path to continue to make us more indebt.
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Feb 11, 2019 01:19pm
It should be paid expenses by individuals and will not be right to travel on tax payers money, let it be any country/religion...just a thought!
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