ISLAMABAD
\nFederal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mahmood has expressed the hope that the government may give subsidy to the intending Hajis but warned the pilgrims that they could face \u201cproblems\u201d during the pilgrimage.
\nTalking to a private television channel Sunday, Talha Mahmood maintained that the expensive Hajj could cost much less but for that they have to bring down the expenditures. The minister said \u201cI am hopeful of extending some subsidy to the intending Hajis. However, we are facing a number of difficulties at the moment.\u201d
\nHe warned that there could be plenty of problem during the Hajj but he is trying to give maximum relief to the pilgrims. The minister recalled that the federal government and the Ministry of Religious Affairs had given a subsidy of around Rs150,000 to pilgrims during last year\u2019s Hajj.
\n\u201cThere is no subsidy this time but if we are able to lower our costs then we can give back that amount of money to the pilgrims,\u201d he elaborated. Talha Mahmood further said \u201cIf God gives me another opportunity then the next year\u2019s Hajj will be conducted excellently. But at the moment, our policy is not right as there are many loopholes in the Hajj plan.\u201d
\nWhile expressing displeasure about Aviation Ministry\u2019s approach, the minister said \u201cPIA wants the government to use its service for transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia but I am not satisfied with their service.\u201d
\nHe further said he had recently visited Saudi Arabia in connection with Hajj arrangements and the PIA flight by which he travelled was late for over two hours and even on return it was one hour late. \u201cThe seats were also not comfortable,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cIt is up to the PIA to thing how they can improve their service as his ministry will face music if PIA flights are delayed by five hours in Saudi Arabia,\u201d he said, adding even the Saudi civil aviation department was also satisfied with PIA\u2019s performance.
\nResponding to a question, Talha Mahmood declared that he will not draw salary from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. \u201cI have never wanted salary from the government all my life. I even do not know how much salary I entitled to. I spend from my own pocket during my recent visit to the Saudi Arabia,\u201d he further said. Talha Mahmood said \u201cI do not want anything from the ministry.\u201d
\nAddressing a news conference in Islamabad on Saturday, Talha Mahmood had said 180,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj this year, and the first Hajj flight will depart on 20 or 21 May. He warned that action will be taken against private Hajj operators who will not fulfil their commitments. He said arrangements were planned to be completed during Ramadan. \u201cI cannot arrange an ideal Hajj but I will definitely try to reduce the miseries of public during their pilgrimage,\u201d he added.
\nTalha Mahmood said \u201cWhen I assumed the Ministry\u2019s charge, there were no arrangements at all. I had to go to Saudi Arabia urgently and now the Hajj operation has been set into motion. As many as 34,000 pilgrims went under the government scheme in 2022, and 45,000 went under the private scheme.\u201d
\nHe said that 180,000 pilgrims will proceed on Hajj this year and they were comparing this year\u2019s Hajj arrangements with 2019. \u201cI am not yet satisfied with the arrangements and maybe I have to go to Saudi Arabia again. I am confident that the issues will be successfully resolved,\u201d he said.
\nThe minister said that all the Khuddam-ul-Hajj who will evade their duty will face three-day TA\/DA deduction. \u201cIn the second phase, they will be deported. If the promises we made to the pilgrims are not fulfilled, I will ensure that they will also get blacklisted,\u201d he added. The minister had said the operators who deviate from their commitments with the Hajj pilgrims will be fined as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mahmood has expressed the hope that the government may give subsidy to the intending Hajis but warned the pilgrims that they could face \u201cproblems\u201d during the pilgrimage. Talking to a private television channel Sunday, Talha Mahmood maintained that the expensive Hajj could cost much less but for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":328073,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-328547","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n