Pakistan’s Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed has expressed the belief that this year’s Hajj 2024 will be an ideal Hajj for Pakistani pilgrims and that the facilities that were not available in the past will be available to them this year.
Speaking to Urdu News on the occasion of participating in the International Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, Aneeq Ahmed said that the government of Saudi Arabia has cooperated more than ever before for the Hajj arrangements. The Saudi government has always been very supportive.
“The Saudi government is very cooperative with us, we get what we ask for.”
According to the Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, I got the support of the Saudi government step by step. Whatever request I made, not a single one was rejected by Saudi Arabia, which is a big thing.
He said that when I talk to the Saudi ministers, it seems that I am talking to my own people. In diplomacy, you have to say half or hide half, but we speak openly.
“Trying to reduce the price of air tickets”
Aneeq Ahmed said regarding the official Hajj quota that Pakistan’s Hajj quota this year is 179,000. 90 thousand of them come under the government scheme. A few thousand of them complain. The effort is now that no complaints come from them. It has been decided that grievances should be eliminated in the government scheme.
“When I took the ministry, I only had this in mind that we will try to provide the best facilities to the Haj pilgrims.”
Regarding the performance of his ministry in five months, he said that last year the Hajj package was 11 lakh 75 thousand rupees. We reduced one lakh to 10 lakh 75 thousand. Similarly, last year two-way air ticket was 2.5 lakhs. We are trying to reduce it. The money that will be saved in this regard will be transferred to the Hajj account.
Our effort is to reduce the air ticket by 25,000 to 30,000, but we want this difference to increase further. It will be reduced from 35 to 40 thousand.
Hajj who are not familiar with smartphones will be trained.
To a question, the caretaker federal minister for religious affairs, Aneeq Ahmed, said that the digitization of Hajj has started. The mobile app is a great convenience. Both public and private pilgrims will use it. Within an hour of the Hajj draw, all data, including flight schedule and accommodation, were fed. We are giving a free mobile SIM with data to every Haji.
In this regard, he further said that there will be GPS location on the mobile app. If the pilgrims lose their way and remember their school, just say school number 15 on the app and they will reach their accommodation or tent with the help of GPS.
The app will work even when the data in the mobile SIM runs out, while using the mobile app is also very easy. Pilgrims unfamiliar with smart phones will also be trained. There are no facility charges. A 30 kg suitcase with QR code is being given to every Haji for free. Abayas are being given to women, the Pakistani flag will be printed on it.
“People left in the official lottery should be allowed to perform Hajj”
Aneeq Ahmad said regarding ‘Road to Makkah’ that Hajj was not short before. Now perform Hajj in 21, 22 days and return. The ‘Route to Makkah’ was only up to Islamabad. We requested the Saudi government, so this year they have included Karachi. They want the Route to Makkah program to start from Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar too.
To a question, he said, “We wish that 5677 people left in the official lottery should also be allowed to perform Hajj.” If the Prime Minister and the Cabinet approve it, all the people left in the lottery will also be declared successful.
The pilgrim’s name and bed number will be written outside each tent.
Regarding the overcapacity of people in the Mina and Arafat tents, the caretaker federal minister for religious affairs said that the ministry has now done one thing. Three days before Mina and Arafat, it could be four days, we will get our tents. A place has been allotted in Mina and Arafat.
This will be the first time that the pilgrim’s name and bed number will be written outside each tent. Every pilgrim will know this is my name and this is my bed number. No one can go to my bed.
He said that with this new arrangement, there will be no problem. If we stay till then, I myself will be here and supervise the affairs.
Regarding catering, Aneeq Ahmed said that in the year 2023, it was 11 riyals per meal. Now we are trying to reduce the price but the quality will not be affected. Maybe we should keep last year’s rate as B and make the quality better than that.
“There will be no VIP or free Hajj”
He clearly said that there will be no VIP or free Hajj this year. The minister has a quota of 2,000 people, but I have refused to use this quota, but I was told that there are some problems and constraints. It was also said that you should keep the quota of 500, but now the work of the ministry will be only up to issuing visas.
Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed said that he had talked to the Prime Minister about the proposal to take the youth of the Pakistani community living in Saudi Arabia as Khudam al-Hajj (deputies), but it is difficult for students living in the kingdom to come for 40 days. Is. One suggestion is to keep them for the five days of mushaira.
