Good news for Hajj pilgrims as Religious Affairs Minister announces to bear expenditures of Hajj sacrificial animals this year

ISLAMABAD, May 14 (SABAH): Good news for the Hajj pilgrims as the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mehmood has announced that the Federal Government will bear the expenditures of the sacrificial animals by itself during Hajj this year. He said that the expenditures of the sacrificial animals will be paid from the fund of the religious affairs ministry, adding that every Pakistani hajj pilgrim will be benefited Rs 53,000 in this form. He has also appealed ceasefire from all the political parties while keeping in mind the hajj operation, adding that the political parties could see their political matters after Eidul Azha. He said that 8,000 hajj quota was returned back to Saudi Arabia; however 1,500 hajj quota has been taken back from Saudi Arabia and applicants have been informed about it. He said that if the finance ministry had agreed, we would not have withdrawn 8,000 hajj quota.  

While addressing press conference in Islamabad on Sunday, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mehmood said the government is taking all out steps to provide maximum facilities to intending pilgrims for hajj this year. He said 185,000 intending pilgrims from Pakistan will perform the religious ritual this year.

The Minister said the expenditures related to sacrificing of animals are included in the hajj expenditures and the intending pilgrims will not have to incur additional costs in this regard.

He said the rise in hajj expenditures this year is due to devaluation of Pakistani rupee and a comparison of full hajj costs will be shared with the nation soon.

Referring to Road to Makkah project, he said currently only Islamabad airport is authorized for this facility and the intending pilgrims leaving from the federal capital will be facilitated through it.

He said Immigration of 26,000 intending pilgrims would be made from Islamabad airport. Senator Talha Mehmood has also announced to conduct the audit of the hajj expenses of the last five years.