NA committee concerned over Haj and Umra arrangements

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s standing committee on religious affairs, zakat and ushr on Tuesday expressed reservations on the arrangements being made for Umra and upcoming Haj.

Chaired by Pir Muhammad Shah Khagga, participants of the committee’s meeting observed that buildings hired by private tour operators provided low quality services and were located far from Harm Sharif. The committee directed the Religious Affairs Ministry to cancel the registration of tour operators who had not fulfilled their contractual obligations. It also asked the ministry to include four members of the National Assembly in the committee to supervise Haj and Umra arrangements and the registration of tour operators.

Pir Muhammad Shah Khagga asked the ministry to set up an information centre at the ministry, which would provide necessary information to intending pilgrims.

The members also expressed displeasure on the repeated absence of the PIA chairman from the committee’s meeting. They asked the Religious Affairs Ministry secretary to ensure that the PIA chairman was present in the next meeting so that the issue of persistent mismanagement of PIA affairs during the Umra and the Haj season could be discussed.

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