NA panel shows serious concern over Hajj arrangements

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs has expressed serious concerns over Hajj arrangements, recruitment of servants, repeated awarding of contracts to the same company, the issue of beggars and lack of funds for minorities, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Chairing a meeting of Standing Committee, acting Chairperson Shagufta Jumani has invited the Minister for Religious Affairs for a briefing on the issues in the next meeting.

The meeting approved the minutes of the previous meeting and presented a report on the implementation of previous recommendations. 

Officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs were briefed on the arrangements for Hajj 2026, agreements with Saudi Arabia, accommodation and transport issues. 

The committee also reviewed the implementation of the Hajj and Umrah Act 2025 and complaints against Hajj group organizers. 

The committee was informed that budget proposals for the fiscal year 2026-27 are being prepared for the PSDP schemes of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. 

Visa, accommodation, fraud and other issues faced by Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Syria were also reviewed. 

During the meeting, strong objections were raised on the procedure for recruiting servants for Hajj. 

Committee member Ijazul Haq questioned whether equal opportunities are given to women and men. 

The Secretary of Religious Affairs said that those who score more than 70 marks are selected and the exam is conducted through a testing service.

Acting Chairperson Shagufta Jumani objected to this and said that the selection of only 600 people out of 35,000 applications is beyond comprehension. 

The Chairperson also said that for the fourth year in a row, a company called “Raji” was awarded a contract in Saudi Arabia, even though it had also been blacklisted. 

She raised the question of why contracts are being awarded to the same company repeatedly. 

An explanation will be sought from the Minister of Religious Affairs in the next meeting. 

The committee also raised the issues of pilgrims being kept in hotels for several days without any reason while in the state of Ihram and the failure of Umrah pilgrims to return on time. 

Shagufta Jumani asked the officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs not to humiliate the pilgrims unnecessarily. 

The meeting also expressed serious concern over the growing problem of begging in Saudi Arabia. 

Committee member Seema Mohiuddin asked what steps are being taken to stop beggars during Hajj and Umrah. 

The officials said that the Ministry of Interior is taking strict measures at airports, while the Ministry of Tourism is responsible for stopping beggars going on Umrah. However, Umrah is under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. 

Efforts are being made to bring the issue under the purview of the committee. 

According to officials, beggars are bringing Pakistan into disrepute at the global level. 

Describing the funds allocated for minorities as insufficient in the meeting, minority members said that even the funds announced for places of worship are often not provided. 

The Secretary Religious Affairs admitted that the required funds are not available. 

Minority member Dr. Nelson Azeem demanded an allocation of at least Rs500 million, on which the committee recommended keeping Rs500 million for minorities in the next budget. 

The committee decided that the Prime Minister, the cabinet and the Ministry of Finance will also be informed in writing in this regard. 

Acting Chairperson Shagufta Jumani invited the Minister of Religious Affairs to the next meeting and said that the Minister of Religious Affairs should personally attend the next meeting so that direct information can be provided on the important issues raised.