ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mahmood has said one hundred and eighty thousand pilgrims will perform the obligation of Hajj this year, and the first Hajj flight will depart on 20 or 21 May.
Addressing a press conference, he said, action will be taken against private Hajj operators who will not fulfil their commitments. He said that arrangements were planned to be completed during Ramadan, I cannot arrange an ideal Hajj but I will definitely try to reduce the miseries of public during Hajj.
Senator Talha Mahmood said that when I assumed the Ministry’s charge, there were no arrangements at all. I had to go to Saudi Arabia urgently and now the Hajj operation have started. Thirty-four thousand pilgrims went under the government scheme in 2022, and forty-five thousand went under the private scheme.
He said one hundred and eighty thousand pilgrims will perform the obligation of Hajj this year and we are comparing this year’s Hajj arrangements with 2019. I am not yet satisfied with the arrangements and maybe I have to go Saudi Arabia again. I am confident that the issues will be successfully resolved.
The federal minister said all the Khuddam-ul-Hajj who will evade from their duty will face three-day TA DA deduction. In the second phase, they will be deported. If the promises we made to the pilgrims are not fulfilled, I will ensure that they also get blacklisted.
Talha Mahmood said there are complaints about airlines services and flight delays. Even the flight I travelled on was late by two hours and I have talked to airlines to resolve this issue.
The Religious affairs minister said the operators who deviate from their commitments with the Hajj pilgrims will be fined as well.
