ISLAMABAD:In light of a United Nations population report, Saudi Arabia has enhanced the quota of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims by 19,609 for 2011 – a year in which Islamabad will divide its pilgrims into two separate categories of “Green and White”.Hajj Policy 2012 of Pakistan
A draft of the new Hajj policy 2011, available with The Express Tribune, shows that the increase in Pakistan’s quota for the annual pilgrimage follows a UN report stating that the country’s population reached 184.8million in 2010.
Following the enhancement, the total number of pilgrims from Pakistan will stand at 179,256 as opposed to 159,547 in 2010.
The most striking part of this new Hajj policy is that the government has decided to introduce two varying accommodation categories for its pilgrims – “Green” and “White” – divided in terms of rent/distance from the Haram Sharif.
Those opting to use the Green category would be required to pay a total of Rs210,047 (for pilgrims belonging to Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur) or Rs222,047 (for those hailing from the rest of the country).
This category will have accommodation within 2,000 metres of the Haram Sharif.
Pilgrims opting for the White category from Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur would pay
Rs200,847 – while those from the rest of Pakistan would pay Rs212,847.
The distance of the accommodation provided under this category will be over 2,000 metres, but will be provided transport facilities.
The government is also making it mandatory for each pilgrim to buy Saudi Riyal 1,000 from the open market before departing for Hajj – an undertaking of which will be submitted with the Hajj application. This new policy might raise the local rates of Saudi Riyal in the open market as a total of 90,000 pilgrims performing Hajj under the government scheme will all be required to buy the amount from the open market.
The new policy also says that any person who has performed Hajj during the last five years shall not be eligible this year. The Religious Ministry is also launching a pilgrim protection scheme under which each Haji would be required to contribute nonrefundable Rs400, which will be collected in Modarabah banks in Pakistan.
A draft of the new Hajj policy 2011, available with The Express Tribune, shows that the increase in Pakistan’s quota for the annual pilgrimage follows a UN report stating that the country’s population reached 184.8million in 2010.
Following the enhancement, the total number of pilgrims from Pakistan will stand at 179,256 as opposed to 159,547 in 2010.
The most striking part of this new Hajj policy is that the government has decided to introduce two varying accommodation categories for its pilgrims – “Green” and “White” – divided in terms of rent/distance from the Haram Sharif.
Those opting to use the Green category would be required to pay a total of Rs210,047 (for pilgrims belonging to Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur) or Rs222,047 (for those hailing from the rest of the country).
This category will have accommodation within 2,000 metres of the Haram Sharif.
Pilgrims opting for the White category from Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur would pay
Rs200,847 – while those from the rest of Pakistan would pay Rs212,847.
The distance of the accommodation provided under this category will be over 2,000 metres, but will be provided transport facilities.
The government is also making it mandatory for each pilgrim to buy Saudi Riyal 1,000 from the open market before departing for Hajj – an undertaking of which will be submitted with the Hajj application. This new policy might raise the local rates of Saudi Riyal in the open market as a total of 90,000 pilgrims performing Hajj under the government scheme will all be required to buy the amount from the open market.
The new policy also says that any person who has performed Hajj during the last five years shall not be eligible this year. The Religious Ministry is also launching a pilgrim protection scheme under which each Haji would be required to contribute nonrefundable Rs400, which will be collected in Modarabah banks in Pakistan.
