Dubai: Performing Haj will be more expensive for Pakistanis from this year as the government has abolished the subsidy given to pilgrims in previous years.
According to the Haj Policy 2019 announced by the Pakistan government last week, the cost of performing Haj will increase by Rs156,975 (Dh4,250) — an increase of about 56 per cent. The falling rupee is another cause of increase in cost of Haj packages.
The Haj 2019 charges under government scheme 2019 is between Rs426,975 and Rs436,975. Previously, the amount was between Rs270,000 and Rs280,000.
The cost of going to Haj for Pakistani expatriates in the UAE will be even higher as they have to first travel to Pakistan to join the groups of pilgrims departing from their country. The government quota for pilgrims is 60 per cent and the private travel agencies’ will get a share of 40 per cent. The applications for Haj will be received from February 20 and 184,210 pilgrims will perform the sacred ritual this year, as per the new policy. The private Haj operators offer Haj packages ranging from Rs550,000 to Rs1.2million.
Pakistani expatriates travel to Haj from their home country because the cost of Haj packages from the UAE are much higher than those offered in Pakistan. The cost of Haj package offered to expatriates in the UAE cost between Dh35,000 and Dh50,000 and the VIP package costs up to Dh75000 per person. The decision to withdraw the subsidy was taken during the federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minster Imran Khan, in Islamabad on Thursday last week.
What do Haj operators say
Hafiz Babar Shahzad from the UAE-based Al Buraq Haj and Umrah Travels told Gulf News that most Pakistanis living in the UAE take Haj packages from Pakistan and this is the case with other expatriate communities as well as it costs them less than taking one from the UAE. “Pakistan government should not have withdrawn the subsidy because pilgrims are already paying more because of the devalued rupee,” he said.
Wrong decision
Arshad Anjum, an expatriate in Sharjah, said the government should abolish the subsidy from next year if it has to be done. “This is too close to the deadline of submitting applications for the Haj,” he said and explained that most pilgrims especially from the poor and middle class take years to plan and save money for Haj and this huge increase would definitely disappoint them.
“I would urge the government not to withdraw subsidy this year and help the poor pilgrims perform Haj,” he added.
Good decision
However, Rizwan Fancy, Director Welfare at the Pakistan Association in Dubai, said that Haj is mandatory for those who can afford to go for it. “I believe that the government has taken right decision to abolish subsidy because performing Haj on loans or charity is not a good idea,” he said. But at the same time Fancy urged the government to support the poor who are old and cannot afford to pay.
What is Haj
The Haj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and it occurs annually in between the 8th and 13th of the Islamic month of Dhul Hija. This year the Haj date will be from August 9 to 14
Haj is a pilgrimage to Islamic holy sites in and around Makkah, a city in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage includes a series of specific rituals carried out by the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) more than 1,400 years ago.
It is obligatory for a devout Muslim to perform at least once in a lifetime if he/she is physically fit enough and financially able to undertake the journey.
Millions of pilgrims from around the world travel to Makkah — by air, road and sea — for the Haj each year. Muslims believe a successful Haj brings enormous spiritual rewards and erases all previous sins.
Its rituals are symbolic re-enactments serving as reminders of the sacrifices and obedience of Prophet Abraham. Haj also seeks to gather Muslims in a spirit of unity and brotherhood.
