Pakistan religious affairs ministry launches short Hajj package

Islamabad: The Ministry of Religious Affairs has introduced short Hajj for Pakistani pilgrims, as per a Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs meeting held under the chairmanship of JUIF leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi.

According to Aneeq Ahmed, the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, the duration of Hajj would last 18 to 20 days, and pilgrims will choose whether to participate in it.

The duration Hajj should last between 18 to 30 days, according to the chairman of the committee.

The caretaker minister said the proposal will be considered at length.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have also been instructed to reduce the 905 Hajj firms to 46.

During his recent visit to the kingdom, Aneeq Ahmed discussed with the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, about plans for the next pilgrimage year.

Ahmed met with key authorities during his week-long visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss the extension of the Makkah Route Initiative and how to make it more convenient for Pakistani pilgrims outside of Islamabad.

Ahmed declared that Saudi Arabia has agreed to improve facilities for Pakistani pilgrims preparing for Hajj in the future year after his talk with the Saudi minister.

He highlighted the necessity of quickly settling the pilgrims' lodging, feeding, and transport plans.

Ahmed also requested that the travel schedule for Pakistani pilgrims be finalized as soon as possible and encouraged that they be lodged close to the sacred locations in a statement released by his ministry.

He argued for the Makkah Route project's expansion to include cities besides Islamabad in order to improve the accessibility and convenience of the trip for all Pakistani pilgrims.