ISLAMABAD: Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan have to pay Rs 115,000 more this year if plans to go for pilgrimage of holy places which will now cost Rs 550,000, for North and Rs 545,000 for Southern region.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs Secretary on Thursday confirmed that an additional Rs115,000 will be charged to pilgrims in Hajj package this year.
According to the details of Standing Committee on Religious Affairs meeting, pilgrimage will cost Rs550,000 owing to depreciation in the value of Pakistani currency and the increase in fares leading to hike in cost.
Ministry Secretary told committee that the North Region’s Hajj package is now priced at Rs550,000 whereas the South Region’s Hajj package will cost Rs545,000. The Religious Affairs secretary said about 179,000 people will be able to go on holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia this year.
The increase in Hajj expenditure has been due to the decrease in the value of rupees and increase in the fares of airlines.
Senator Sirajul Haq and other members staged a protest on the absence of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Noor-ul-Haq Qadri. Chairman Committee Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidari said that Minister for Religious Affairs should attend the next meeting after which the meeting was adjourned.
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