Move ignore­s recomm­endati­on of Hajj Policy Formul­ation Commit­tee, non-quota holder­sISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has allocated the entire additional Hajj quota to the old Hajj tour operators, ignoring the non-quota holders as well as the recommendation of the Hajj Policy Formulation Committee. Sources told The Express Tribune that the religious affairs minister and the secretary had developed a strong difference over the allocation of additional Hajj quota to the operators. According to the approved Hajj policy, of the total country’s Hajj quota of 179,210, 60 per cent or 107,526 was allocated to the government Hajj scheme, while 40 per cent or 71,684 to the private Hajj scheme – Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs). The Saudi government allocated an additional quota of 5,000 pilgrims which was also given to the private sector. It was briefed that later on the government of Saudi Arabia enhanced the Hajj quota of Pakistan from 184,210 to 200,000 by granting an additional quota of 17,790 Hujjaj.

Source: The Express Tribune June 22, 2019 04:06 UTC