Islamabad
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is likely to finalise the new Hajj policy 2020 by the end of current month and expected to send it to federal cabinet for approval, said official source.
According to the source, the ministry has expedited finalizing Hajj policy following the inking of Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia last week. The ministry has suggested enhancing government quota up to 65 percent. Three time hajj applicants should be selected without balloting; hajj training progammes were being improved further. He said the new conditions for distributing hajj quota among Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) were being considered, including hiring of the services of new chartered accountant firm for fresh assessment of the profiles of HGOs, besides allotting hajj quota 80 to 100 hujjaj to eligible HGOs.
Saudi Arabia has announced insurance for pilgrims coming from outside the kingdom, as part of its Vision 2030 reform plan, according to state media. Hajj and Umrah Minister, Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten signed an agreement with Tawuniya Chairman Sulaiman Al-Humaid at the Hajj and Umrah Ministry’s headquarters in Makkah, Arab news reported.
Under the agreement, the ministry will provide health and other insurance services to pilgrims from the time they arrive in the Kingdom until they leave. The insurance scheme comes as part of the Vision 2030 reform plan, which aims at enhancing pilgrims’ experiences, said Minister Benten.
Tawuniya was tapped by the Hajj and Umrah Ministry in consultation with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA).
