Hajj Package 2020 likely to increase by Rs 63,000: Senate body told.

ISLAMABAD -- The Sub-committee of the Senate's Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Wednesday was told the Government Scheme Hajj package for the year 2020 was likely to increase by Rs 63,000.

The committee, which met with its convener Hafiz Abdul Karim in the chair and attended by member Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, directed the Religious Ministry to keep the Hajj package to the minimum level and provide maximum facilities to the Pakistani pilgrims.

It also directed the ministry to persuade Saudi authorities to minimize taxes, which would help reduce the package.

Secretary Religious Affairs Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed and Additional Secretary Dawood told that the committee that tentative Hajj package for next year would be Rs 489,575 as against Rs 436,975 for the year 2019.

They said a Pak-Saudi Joint Rapid Response Committee had been constituted to promptly resolve the issues being confronted by the Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj days in Saudi Arabia.

The officials said Saudi Arabia would be requested to expand its Road to Makkah project, which was launched at Islamabad airport last year, to Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta also.

The ministry had blacklisted five Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) for violating Hajj agreements with their respective clients. The committee directed the ministry to furnish complete details of actions taken against the HGOs within next two days.

The committee also directed the ministry to negotiate with the Saudi government for reducing the rent of tents from 200 Saudi Riyal per...