Ministry of Religious Affairs, Private Hajj Operators Dispute, Risk of Wasting Private Hajj Quota, Revealed in Committee
ISLAMABAD ( WEB NEWS )
The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs revealed that the dispute between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) has led to the risk of wasting the private Hajj quota. Due to this dispute, private Hajj companies are not signing the SPA (Services Provider Agreement) with the Ministry. The Secretary of Religious Affairs stated that if the private companies do not sign the SPA within four days, Saudi Arabia will cancel 50% of the private Hajj quota.
The Ministry insists on issuing the RL (Registration Letter) for only 46 companies, while HOAP is demanding RL letters for all 906 registered companies in Pakistan. The Committee directed the private Hajj operators to take back the stay order from the Sindh High Court within 24 hours and sign the SPA with the Ministry. If the quota is lost, HOAP, rather than the Ministry, will be held responsible.
On Tuesday, the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, chaired by Atta-ur-Rehman, held a meeting. Senators Afnanullah, Bushra Anjum Butt, Hassna Bano, Guldeep Singh, and Dinesh Kumar participated in the meeting. Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs informed that Pakistan’s Hajj quota is 179,000, with 50% allocated to the government and 50% to the private sector. The Ministry has received 5,000 sponsorship applications. The government has also introduced a limited-time Hajj program.
For private Hajj, companies taking 2,000 pilgrims will be allotted quotas, up from 500 last year. Hajj assistants for government pilgrims will be tested before being allowed to go. A dedicated assistant will be assigned for every 100 pilgrims. Children under 12 will not be allowed to book Hajj packages. The government’s Hajj package will range from 1.075 million to 1.175 million PKR. The “Road to Makkah” project will be implemented in Islamabad and Karachi. A total of 81,077 applications for government Hajj have been received. Pakistani pilgrims will also be provided mobile SIM cards.
Representatives from the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) mentioned that there are 906 registered private Hajj companies in Pakistan. They demand that all 906 companies receive RL letters so they can operate in the country. HOAP stated they are willing to follow the Hajj policy but will not sign the SPA unless all 906 companies are granted RL letters. They also raised concerns about 80 complaints regarding private Hajj and 18,000 complaints related to the government Hajj scheme.
Federal Secretary of Religious Affairs, Dr. Zulfiqar Haider, explained that the Ministry wants to step back from managing Hajj arrangements, and it is possible that all future Hajj operations could be managed by private operators. He further warned that if the private operators do not withdraw their cases from the courts, their quota will be canceled.
Previously, 904 companies were registered for private Hajj under the Ministry, but last year, at the request of Saudi Arabia, the number was reduced to 162. This year, Saudi Arabia increased the quota for each company to 2,000 pilgrims, which means the number of eligible companies is now 46. Saudi authorities have ordered that private Hajj companies be reduced to 46, and they do not want to deal with 906 companies.
The private operators went to the Sindh High Court, which requested the meeting minutes, and this could affect the private Hajj quota. If there is any delay, Saudi Arabia may cancel the private quota. Several companies merged, and 46 companies were registered with the SECP. The Secretary stated that they have registered 46 companies and cannot work with all 906. Smaller companies send pilgrims abroad, but they cannot issue RL letters to these 906 companies.
A new private Hajj policy is being created, and advertisements will be published to invite companies that can organize Hajj to come and obtain quotas. Private Hajj operators must sign the SPA and take back their stay order from the Sindh High Court within four days, or their quota will be wasted, and the private operators will bear the consequences. The Standing Committee directed HOAP to take back the stay order from the Sindh High Court within 24 hours and sign the SPA with the Ministry. If the Hajj quota is wasted, HOAP, not the Ministry, will be held accountable.
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt remarked that HOAP has disrespected the committee by not following its instructions.