ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan told the Senate on Friday that recent increase in Hajj expenses was a result of increased expenditure in Saudi Arabia which was beyond control of the Pakistani government.
While responding to a call attention notice moved by Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed regarding exorbitant increase in the Hajj expenses by the government in 2019, Ali Mohammad Khan said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government deliberately did not increase Hajj expenses in 2017-18 due to election year.
The minister told the House that the government was making efforts to provide maximum relief to intending pilgrims in meeting Hajj expenses.
حج اخراجات میں اضافے کی وجہ سعودی عرب میں حج اخراجات میں 70 فیصداضافہ ہے ۔۔۔۔حج اخراجات میں کمی کیلئے بھرپور کوششیں کر ر ہے ہیں۔۔امید ہے کہ حج سے پہلے ریلیف مل جائے گا۔ ۔پارلیمانی امور کےوزیرمملکت علی محمد خان کا سینٹ میں بیان @Ali_MuhammadPTI pic.twitter.com/CfFa3oQgUo
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Ali Muhammad Khan said 70 percent of Hajj expenditures were incurred in Saudi Arabia and the government of Pakistan could not control them. He said buildings rent was increased from Rs 60,900 to Rs 94,185.
The minister said cost of transportation increased from Rs 9,000 to Rs 13,104, food charges from Rs 23,000 to Rs 38,000, Madina accommodation from Rs 23,200 to Rs 40,000, train charges from Rs 7,250 to Rs 20,000, Qurbani from Rs 13,050 to Rs 19,451 while cost of air travel went up by Rs 17,000.
The minister of state said devaluation of Pakistani rupee also caused surge in Hajj expenses.
Ali Muhammad Khan said compulsory Hajj charges went from Rs 31,813 to Rs 70,000, expenditure at Mushair from Rs 25,520 to Rs 42,000, luggage charges from Rs 580 to Rs 819 while arrival snacks presented to pilgrims at airports, express service at airport, and Zamzam charges each increased from Rs 290 to Rs 409.
Over 184,000 Pakistanis to perform Hajj this year
Meanwhile talking to media persons in Peshawar on Friday, the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri sad more than 184,000 Pakistanis would perform Hajj this year.
The religious minister said only those people who had resources should have performed Hajj.
The minister said Hajj expenditures increased every year due to increase in prices.
