ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A total of 143,000 people will go on pilgrimage this year while the Hajj applications
under the government scheme will be received from April 15 to 23, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was informed.
In a meeting of the standing committee presided over by Hafiz Abdul Kareem in Islamabad on Friday, the committee approved Hajj policy 2015.
The officials of the ministry for religious affairs briefing the committee about Hajj policy 2015, and said that 50 percent quota will be allocated each to the government and private tour operators.
The committee was informed that names of successful aspirants will be announced on April 28 after balloting.
It was informed that according to the new Hajj policy, the cost of living will be 600 riyals in Madina and 3,000 riyals in Makkah per person. The cost of Hajj has been reduced by Rs17,000 as compared to last year.
The ministry officials told that the total expenditure of going to Hajj from Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur will be Rs246,231 while Rs255,071 will be charged from passengers of other cities.
The officials told that half of the pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme will directly go to Madina.
In addition, the ministry officials told the standing committee that those who performed Hajj during the past five years are not eligible to perform pilgrimage this year.
Similarly, no one will be allowed to perform Hajj on government’s expense.
