PA demands reversal of 63pc increase in Haj expenses.

The Sindh Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution unanimously asking the provincial government to convey the legislature's concern to Islamabad over the 'unacceptable' increase in Haj expenses under the government scheme, demanding that the expenditures be reversed to the previous threshold.

'This 63 per cent increase in the government-sponsored Haj has deprived a large number of people, who could have afforded the previous expenses, from performing this religious duty,' said Pakistan Peoples Party's Nida Khuhro who, with party colleague Sadia Javed and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan's Sarwat Fatima, moved the resolution.

She criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's federal government for withdrawing subsidy that the government had been bearing for long to help people perform Haj with little burden on their pockets.

'They [PTI government] came to power with the promise to turn Pakistan into the State of Madina, but on the contrary their actions are such that people [are unable] to visit the holy places,' she said.

She said an increase of 63pc in the Haj expenses was totally unacceptable and the federal government should revisit and revise its Haj policy.

Sarwat Fatima criticised the new Haj policy saying it had exposed the government's 'real' objectives, which were against the common people.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's Abdul Rasheed said the increase in Haj expenses had heightened concerns of the people about the PTI government.

'It is hard for the people to believe that such a policy has been devised by a government that had been claiming that they would turn the country into [another] State of Madina.'

He said the new policy was aimed at benefiting the private Haj operators who would increase their rates by an even greater percentage.

Kunwar Naveed of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, which is a partner in the PTI-led federal government, said it was not possible for the common man to spend an additional around Rs200,000 on performing Haj.

He criticised the previous governments' policies on Pakistan International Airline's operation, but said the people should not be punished for the wrongdoings committed in the past.

Grand Democratic Alliance's Razzaq Rahimoon supported the resolution saying the decision to increase Haj expenses be reversed.

PPP's Imdad Pitafi said by making everything difficult for the people of Pakistan, the PTI government wanted to create chaos across the country.

PPP's Murad Ali Shah from Naushahro Feroze said that...