ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Thursday expressed reservations over the proposed increase of Rs115,000 in the government Hajj scheme package for 2020. The meeting chaired by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri directed the religious affairs ministry to justify the cost hike in the next meeting to avoid its rejection. Senator Haideri said that the ministry was increasing the cost of the Hajj package every year, making it difficult for the poor to perform the religious obligation. The secretary told lawmakers that the ministry had returned Rs5 billion to the pilgrims who performed Hajj through the government programme last year. Borana informed the body that the minister was in Karachi to attend a meeting of the Ulema and Mashaikh Council.

Source: Pakistan Today January 23, 2020 15:22 UTC