Tag: Ministry of Religious Affairs

  • No minister of Religious Affairs as five thousand hajj applications wait to be reviewed

    No minister of Religious Affairs as five thousand hajj applications wait to be reviewed

    There are only four days left for the commencement of Hajj flights, but a permanent minister for Religious Affairs and a Secretary in the ministry, have not been appointed yet.

    No progress could be made on the issue of 5,633 applications that failed in the Hajj lottery due to the non-appointment of a permanent minister and secretary of the department, reports Geo News.

    No request has been sent to the Prime Minister for the pilgrims who failed in the lottery.

    As per statistics, this year about 160,000 pilgrims will go to Hijaz to perform Hajj, while 19,500 Hajj quota is being returned to Saudi Arabia.

    Sources of the Ministry of Religious Affairs further told Geo that the Hajj quota has been returned to Saudi Arabia for two years but if the Hajj quota is returned in the future, Pakistan’s quota may be reduced.

    Federal Foreign Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain was given the additional charge of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on April 3, while Additional Secretary Syed Atta-ul-Rehman was given the additional charge of the Secretary of Religious Affairs on October 30 last year.

  • Hajjis to get mobile sims and free internet

    Hajjis to get mobile sims and free internet

    Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed has said that the government will provide free-of-cost mobile SIMs with roaming internet packages for pilgrims, on Tuesday.

    He further stated that female abayas having a Pakistani flag on the backside and 13 Kg suitcases will also be provided to pilgrims performing hajj this year.

    The minister said that it was a historic step that the caretaker government has declared a significant reduction of one lac in government Hajj expenses, adding that a further Rs50,000 will also be reduced in the coming few days after which Hajjaj will get back their money in their accounts.

    He further revealed that a new mobile application has been designed to assist pilgrims, which will provide navigation support and enable constant communication between pilgrims and relevant officials.

    Initially available in English and Urdu, the application will later incorporate various regional languages, he said, adding that, the app will also provide digital training programs to every pilgrim.

    The minister also disclosed a project that the Ministry of Hajj in collaboration with the Ministry of Education has planned to convert city mosques into schools to enroll out-of-school children where the Imam of mosques will play a leading role.

    Minister said that mosques will play their role as community centers in every city area, adding that imams will resolve community issues as well after offering prayers.

    He said that the Ministry of Hajj is taking all four provinces on board and enhancing the connectivity of mosques.

    While describing another project, minister for religious affairs said that his ministry with the collaboration of health ministry has another project in which medical clinics will also be part of mosques.

    Lady health workers and other essential staff of doctors will also be provided in all masajid where they will facilitate to citizens visiting inside the masque of areas, he added.

  • PM Kakar aims to make Hajj more affordable and comfortable for pilgrims

    PM Kakar aims to make Hajj more affordable and comfortable for pilgrims

    On Monday, Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar issued a directive emphasising the provision of high-quality and affordable facilities for pilgrims during the Hajj without compromising the overall arrangements.

    During a meeting focused on the Ministry of Religious Affairs, he stressed the importance of ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to facilitate pilgrims in performing this significant religious ritual, as reported by the state news agency.

    The Prime Minister was briefed on the ministry’s performance, the actions taken for Hajj, and the preparations for the Hajj policy in 2024, according to a press release from the PM Office Media Wing.

    According to ARY News, the meeting was attended by Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed and other ministry officials.

    In his address to the participants, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for rigorous oversight of private Hajj companies to ensure that pilgrims using private schemes do not encounter any difficulties. 

    He also requested the submission of the Hajj policy for approval by the federal cabinet.

  • CII grants conditional permission to women performing Hajj without a mehram

    CII grants conditional permission to women performing Hajj without a mehram

    The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday gave conditional permission to women to perform Hajj without a mehram under certain conditions, a spokesperson for the body confirmed.

    Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs had sought the views of CII to determine whether or not women would be allowed to perform Hajj without a mehram (close-male relative) or male guardian.  

    In October 2022, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced that women all over the world would be able to perform Hajj and Umrah without a mehram or male guardian. The Ministry of Religious Affairs sought clarity on the matter from the CII.

    A CII spokesperson stated it is acceptable, citing the Islamic Jafri, Maliki and Shafi’i schools of thought, which state that women are permitted to perform Hajj without a mehram under Sharia law.

    The Council clarified that according to Hanafi and Hanbali fiqh, a woman is not obligated to perform Hajj if she does not have a mehram.

    However, the CII stressed the permission is dependent on certain conditions.

    What are the conditions?

    Firstly, a woman can only travel sans mehram if granted explicit permission by either her parents or husband. Secondly, if a group of women are to travel for Hajj together, the religious ministry is entitled to a thorough investigation to ensure the group is fit to embark on the pilgrimage.

    The CII spokesperson did note that if a woman wanted to solo travel for Hajj and Umrah, and she did not feel insecure while traveling, she had the right to go (of course dependent on her parents’/husband’s permission).

    Writer and former advisor to the Minister of Hajj, Faten Ibrahim Hussein, praised the new ruling. According to him, allowing women to perform Umrah without a mehram makes the pilgrimage more attainable, as many come from difficult social situations and may not find a mehram.

  • Pakistan fails to meet Hajj quota due to rising inflation and dollar shortage

    Pakistan fails to meet Hajj quota due to rising inflation and dollar shortage

    On Wednesday, sources within the Ministry of Religious Affairs reported that the government has decided to return Pakistan’s quota of Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia due to a shortfall of applications caused by rising inflation.

    This year marked the first time a quota for Hajj pilgrimage was available in the country, but the shortage of dollars and rising inflation prevented Pakistanis from applying for Hajj.

    The final decision to return the Hajj quota will be made by the federal cabinet. The authorities considered giving the official Hajj quota to private operators after a few applications turned out for the government scheme. However, this option would lead to private operators collecting dollars from the open market, causing unnecessary demand for foreign currency.

    Pakistan had been demanding an increase in the Hajj quota, allowing 179,210 pilgrims to 202,000 or 201,000 pilgrims. This year, the country received its complete quota of 179,000 pilgrims after many years but couldn’t utilize it entirely. It’s worth noting that the cost of government-sponsored Hajj is around Rs1.2 million.

    Due to an acute shortage of the greenback amid the collapsing economy, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony decided to allocate a 50% special quota in the Government Hajj Scheme-2023 for pilgrims who will pay in US dollars. However, a quota of 89,605 Hajj pilgrims was set under the government scheme, falling short of 9,000 applicants.

    The government received 72,869 applicants under the regular scheme and only 8,000 under the sponsorship scheme. Moreover, 28,679 additional applications were received under the official regular scheme against the quota of 44,190. Additional applicants are being sent for Hajj pilgrimage without a lucky draw.

    The sources indicated that a total of $235 million is required for the government scheme, some of which will be provided by the sponsorship scheme and the rest by the government.

  • Pilgrims paying in US dollars to receive special discount for upcoming Hajj

    According to recent reports, the government is planning to provide incentives to citizens who choose to pay their dues for the upcoming Hajj in US dollars.

    Additionally, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has allocated a 25 per cent special quota for pilgrims who deposit the amount in dollars, as per APP.

    This move is a response to the government’s efforts to strengthen the fast-dwindling foreign reserves. According to a report by SAMAA on Friday, pilgrims who pay their application fees and other charges in US dollars will receive a special discount.

    SAMAA also cited the draft of the Hajj Policy 2023, which states that pilgrims will be given the option to choose the currency in which they wish to pay. Those who choose to pay in dollars will be exempted from the balloting process under the new Hajj policy, as reported by APP.

  • 200 officials to reportedly fly for Hajj on govt expenses, PM takes notice

    200 officials to reportedly fly for Hajj on govt expenses, PM takes notice

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of a media report about government officials performing Hajj this year on government expense. A list of 200 officials/officers from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has been finalised by the government for Hajj this year. Religious Affairs Minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor will also be performing Hajj this year apart from 35 members of the minister’s office, which includes five drivers, four gunmen, one cook and 11 personal secretaries and assistants, reports Kasim Abbasi for The News.

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) commenced Hajj flight operations on Monday (June 6) and1,080 pilgrims left for Hajj. Two flights left from Islamabad and one each from Lahore and Quetta.

    Hajj pilgrims are also being informed about their flight schedules through the website and SMS on their mobile number.

    A spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs said that at least 32,000 pilgrims will be flown to Saudi Arabia through 106 Hajj flights under the government’s Hajj scheme. He further added that 42 flights will be operated from Islamabad under the “Road to Makkah” project.

    Saudi Arabia has launched the “Road to Makkah” initiative in five countries, including Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Bangladesh for the fourth consecutive year since its launch in 2019.

    Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry in a statement said the “Road to Makkah” initiative aims to receive the pilgrims and complete their procedures from their countries with ease.

  • Forced conversions are against the spirit of the constitution 

    On Wednesday, a parliamentary committee rejected the anti-forced conversion bill after the Ministry of Religious Affairs opposed the proposed law. According to Dawn, Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said the “environment is unfavourable” for formulating a law against forced conversions and warned that forming a law on forced conversions would “create further problems for minorities” as they will be made more vulnerable. He also said the proposed law will deteriorate peace in the country.

    It is unfortunate that the minister thinks such a law will lead to problems and will affect peace in the country. Minorities in Pakistan make up a very small number as more than 96 per cent population of the country is Muslim. So why would a bill that is against forced conversions, something that our religion also does not allow, make the minorities vulnerable? The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees that the rights of the minorities would be fully protected. Forced conversions are against the spirit of the Constitution as well as our religious teachings. 

    The Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights (JAC), a collection of  37 human rights groups, in an open letter has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to take legal as well as administrative measures to protect minorities, especially the under age girls from forced conversions and marriages. The letter has also urged PM Khan to ensure the approval of the draft bill for timely legislation. The JAC also expressed its concern on the statements of the Minister for Religious Affairs on the draft bill to curb forced conversions, recalling that such statements are not only against the spirit of the Constitution, judgments of the Supreme Court of Pakistan but are also in contradiction with the stand taken by the PM against forced conversion of minority groups in Pakistan.

    Hopefully, the government will address this issue soon. We know that the majority of these forced conversions are underage girls from minority communities. Such practices should not be condoned by the government. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had envisioned a Pakistan where the minorities would feel safe. We should not let our founding father down.