Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain made an important revelation during the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
Islamabad - Disclosure of the disappearance of 50 thousand Pakistanis who went to Iraq for pilgrimage. According to the details, a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was held at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of the Committee Chairman Senator Atta Rahman on Wednesday.
In the meeting of the Standing Committee, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony's work procedures, performance, arrangements made for Hajj 2024, complaints made by pilgrims regarding accommodation, transport, food, and health, and the Ministry The steps taken to solve them were reviewed in detail.
In the meeting of the Standing Committee, the Standing Committee was informed about the work procedures and performance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony that the Ministry of Religious Affairs Hajj operation and its related affairs, Umrah, India, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. It regulates pilgrimage, error-free printing of the Holy Quran, Ruyat Hilal Committee, and also oversees policy and legislation regarding the promotion of inter-faith harmony Awqo Trust Property is also a part of this ministry.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
The Standing Committee was informed that a new policy has been formulated regarding pilgrimages in various countries which has been sent to the Cabinet for approval. The committee was told that pilgrims from Iran, Iraq, and Syria are monitored by groups in Taftan, 136 groups of pilgrims are sent for pilgrimage. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain revealed in the committee meeting that around 50 thousand Pakistanis have gone to Iraq and disappeared.
Which Senator Raja Nasir Abbas said that the majority of the people who disappear in other countries are those who go there illegally, who go for pilgrimage and their visas are taken at the border. The Standing Committee was told that the government wants the group's system to be promoted and was also informed that they have their own authority on the Iraq border and they have their own salary system.
In the meeting of the standing committee, the problems faced by the pilgrims at the Taftan border were also examined in detail. Senator Raja Nasir Abbas said that he himself examined the problems of visitors at the Taftan border. The visitors have to wait for many days. Basic amenities are non-existent. Food items are very expensive and of poor quality. A comprehensive strategy is urgently needed.
The federal minister said that some matters are also with the provincial governments and bringing them together will bring significant improvement. The Chairman of the Committee Senator Atta-ul-Rehman said that this matter should be taken up with the Provincial Government and the Chief Secretary and some members of the Committee should also hold a meeting with them and prepare a report.
Senator Raja Nasir Abbas said that a complaint cell should be established here like the pilgrims.
The committee was told that the Pakistan House project was dropped from the PSDP. The land for this was given by the Balochistan government. It is difficult to arrange accommodation for 5000 pilgrims in Quetta. The committee decided to keep this issue as one agenda, review it together with all the concerned institutions, and have the chief secretary prepare a report.
Chairman Committee said that a comprehensive policy related to these issues should be made so that things can improve. The Standing Committee was informed that the total number of seats for pilgrims to India and pilgrims from India to Pakistan is 200-500 which has not been increased since 1974. The chairman committee said that maximum facilities should be provided for the people of both countries and that taking effective measures for the promotion of religious tourism in the country is the need of the hour.
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt said that whatever new policy is made for visitors, women and children should be given special care and all possible measures should be taken for their facilities. The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs said that steps are being taken to control the cases of people going to other countries illegally. The Standing Committee was told that matters have been taken up with the provinces to cover up the errors in the Holy Quran.
The draft of the Pak publication of the mistakes of the Holy Quran has been shared with the provinces. Regarding the Royat Hilal Committee, the Standing Committee was informed that only two people have been attached to the Ministry to assist them and the budget of the Royat Hilal Committee is only Rs 64 lakh per annum. A new policy to promote interfaith harmony has been sent to the cabinet. The committee was informed in detail.
The chairman and members of the committee said that we should take care of the sanctity of each other's religious places and religious beliefs so that inter-religious harmony can be promoted in the country. The Standing Committee was told that other religions and other faiths and festivals are celebrated vigorously in the country to promote religious freedom. Senator Gardeep Singh said that the functions of our religion should be celebrated at the official level like other religions.
The Standing Committee was informed in detail about the issues related to Hajj 2024. The committee was informed that several new measures have been taken to provide maximum facilities to the pilgrims. Facilitation of road to Makkah Islamabad and Karachi has been provided and the facility of short-term Hajj has also been started this time. The best facilities of food, accommodation and travel were provided to the pilgrims and efforts have been made to ensure the availability of package facilities to the pilgrims from the private sector as well.
The Standing Committee was informed that 902 tour operator companies have been reduced to 162 and the minimum quota of one company is 500. will be. The Chairman Committee said that numerous pilgrims have given complaints regarding various issues and it has also been said that both those with high packages and those with low packages were given accommodation and food facilities at the same place and equal travel facilities were provided. went
On which the officials said that almost all the complaints of the pilgrims under the government scheme have been resolved, however, the complaints related to the private tour operators are being compiled, the details of which will be informed to the committee and the standing committee which If there are complaints, provide a better solution. The Standing Committee was informed that during the Hajj, 81 pilgrims fell to Allah, out of which 45 went under the government scheme and 36 under the private scheme.
The committee was told that for the first time, all the pilgrims in Madinah were provided accommodation in the center. 350 buses were hired for the Hajj journey. The standing committee was told that this time the facilities for Hajj have improved in the private sector as well. Ministry provided training to pilgrims twice. 376 medical professionals were sent with the pilgrims. A 40-bed hospital and 9 dispensaries were established in Makkah, while a 10-bed hospital and 2 dispensaries were established in Madinah.
The Standing Committee also approved the appointment of Senator Raja Nasir Abbas as a member of the Zairean Management Committee on behalf of Chairman Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. In the meeting of the Standing Committee, Senator Hasna Bano, Mohammad Aslam Abaro, Bashira Anjum Butt, Gardeep Singh, Raja Nasir Abbas, and Aun Abbas Bapi, besides Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs were present. Other high officials attended
