Govt introduces short Hajj spanning, boy below 12 years not allowed to perform Hajj

ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (EPI): Senate body has been informed that Saudi Government has directed that a boy aged below 12 years is not allowed to perform Hajj, adding that federal government has also introduced a Short Hajj spanning 20 to 25 days.

The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, chaired by Senator Atta Ur Rehman, convened today to discuss the Hajj Policy for 2025.

Officials apprised that a Hajj quota of 179,000 has been allocated for the year 2025, which has been divided equally between the Government and the private sector, including 50,000 sponsorship seats for the government and 30,000 for the private sector. As of now, the government has received 81,075 applications.

The government has also introduced a Short Hajj spanning 20 to 25 days. However, private organizations are allowed to take no fewer than 2,000 Hujjaj. Additionally, the ministry has introduced a test for ‘Muwayeen’ to examine their ability, with a condition of one Muwaen for every 100 Hujjaj. Moreover, the Saudi Government has directed that a boy aged below 12 years is not allowed to perform Hajj.

While discussing the concerns of the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP), officials informed that the government has introduced a cluster system comprising 40 to 45 private organizations to fulfill the Saudi Government’s requirement of 2,000 Hujjaj for private organizations.

The government has also introduced a Service Provider Agreement, but the HOAP has acquired a stay order from the Sindh High Court against it. The Committee directed the HOAP to vacate the stay order and comply with the Service Provider Agreement within the next 48 hours.

Furthermore, the Committee took up the matter of the mosque constructed by the CDA and located in Park Enclave. Additional Deputy Commissioner Maheen Baloch stated that the mosque should be handed over to Auqaf Management so that the Waqf Manager could be appointed as per the law.

The residents, who have been managing the mosque for the last 10 months as per CDA’s directions, pleaded that the Waqf Manager should be appointed from among the society’s residents. The Committee recommended that the Waqf Manager should be appointed among the residents.

Additionally, the Committee was briefed on the death of a 14-year-old Hindu boy during the 555th Birth rituals of Baba Guru Nanak. Officials stated that the incident occurred due to poor management; however, the ministry is investigating the matter, and the alleged individuals will be penalized as per the law.

The Committee recommended that compensation of Rs. 2.5 million each be given to the aggrieved family by the Evacuee Trust Board and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC),and the report of the findings should be submitted within three weeks.

In attendance were Senators Husna Bano,Afnan Ullah Khan,Bushra Anjum Butt,Gurdeep Singh,Danesh Kumar,Secretary for Religious Affairs Zulfiquar Haider and Inter-faith Harmony and other senior officials from relevant Departments.

Ends-Exact Press International-