As many as 1,790 people went to perform Haj for free last year according to the list presented in a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The religious affairs secretary told the PAC meeting, chaired by Noor Alam Khan, that Haj assistants were government employees.

“We ask for the expenses of the government employees from the ministry concerned, but we do not get them. The Ministry of Religious Affairs itself bears their expenses,” he said.

“I myself am against free Haj, but the Saudi authorities say that one assistant should be sent for every 100 pilgrims,” he added.

The PAC also took notice of the difficulties faced by the Pakistani pilgrims during the recent Haj.

“The president and the federal minister for religious affairs and secretaries were present during Haj, but still the Pakistani pilgrims complained about bad management,” the PAC chairman said.

Reporter: Tayyab Saif