Government ends subsidy for Hajj pilgrims

The federal cabinet approved the Hajj policy for 2019 with no government subsidy. This was decided by in a cabinet meeting on Thursday. It was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan Later in the day, however, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in a press conference in Islamabad said that the government has yet to make a decision on Hajj subsidies. The expense for Hajj as compared to last year has increased by Rs100,000. Without a subsidy, the pilgrimage will cost people in the Southern areas of the country Rs436,000 while people in the Northern areas will pay Rs426,000. Related: Pilgrims reach Makkah for ‘smart Hajj’ The Ministry of Religious Affairs had recommended a subsidy of Rs45,000 per pilgrim A quota of 10,000 people who haven’t been chosen to go for Hajj through the lottery for three years will be sent to perform the pilgrimage. As many as184,210 people will go for Hajj this year out of whom 107,000 people will be accommodated through government schemes and more than 76,000 people through private schemes.