Quota for private Haj tour operators may increase


ISLAMABAD  -  Although the scheduled parley between ministry of religious affairs and private Haj tour operators on distribution of Haj quota could not reach on any consensus, yet the ministry accepting some demands may revise official decision in two days."The government will not accept all the demands of private Haj tour operators but it will accept some of demands and make the official decision public in two days," sources in Religious Ministry shared with The Nation. The representatives of both religious ministry led by minister for religious affairs and private Haj tours operators led by Chairman HOAP Waheed Iqbal held a long parley to resolve the issue regarding alleged inequitable cut in Haj quota but could not reach on any final consensus.Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, who after the strong protest by tour operator on Tuesday last summoned them for talks, has tacitly assured to revise the policy. The Haj tour operators demanded that quota for them should also not be slashed and equitable share should be given to them. The sources said that though the minister termed their demands unreasonable but assured a flexible stand by his government on it.It would not be out of place to mention here that a large number of private tour operators led by Waheed Iqbal Tuesday held a strong protest against the religious minister.When contacted, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said that the matter will further be deliberated to reach on any consensus. "All successful intending pilgrims, who have deposited dues, will perform religious obligation," he clarified, adding that the meeting between religious ministry and private Haj tour operators discussed the matter to resolve the issue. It merits mentioning here due to 20 per cent cut in Haj quota by Saudi government, 143,368 Pakistanis would perform Haj this year instead of 179,210.PM forms body to remove private Haj tour operators' concerns Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has constituted a four-member committee to remove the concerns of private Haj tour operators.Private Haj operators were protesting against the federal government's move to put the burden of reduction in overall Haj quota by Saudi government on them and demanded that it should be evenly imposed on both private and regular Haj schemes. Official announcement said that committee headed by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, comprises Minister for Information Pervez Rashid, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yusuf and Minister of State for Religious Affair Pir Mohammad Aminul Hasnaat.The PM has directed the committee to observe the complaints of all stakeholders in connection of reduction in Haj quota by Saudi government. Private Haj operators have argued that after the reduction of 20 per cent Haj quota by Saudi government, it should be equally distributed on government and private Haj Operators but instead of that Ministry of Haj has allocated 40 per cent quota to the private Haj operators while rest of 60 per cent would be utilised by the ministry of religious affairs under the regular Haj scheme.

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