KP, Balochistan people being denied Haj quota

ISLAMABAD
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has failed to ensure the participation of KP and Balochistan people in Haj, as the quota allocated for these provinces is being used by private tour operators in Lahore and Karachi.
Hajj application forms meant for the people of KP and Balochistan are being sold at Rs150,000 to 200,000, as people in these cities can afford to buy them at higher rates compared to the poor people of KP and Balochistan.
The situation emerged after the religious affairs minister’s decision to allow pilgrims to fly from any airport of the country.
In past, the place of departure couldn’t be changed and pilgrims had to fly from airport near to their residence. So Lahore and Karachi residents never wanted to fly from Peshawar or Quetta and Haj quota for these provinces was used by the citizens of these provinces.
Some tour operators from Peshawar and Quetta are selling Hajj application forms reserved for KP and Balochistan to the interested applicants who can pay more and there is no check on them.
Second negligence of the Ministry of Religious Affairs is not to check the rates offered by private tour operators and they are earning profit as much they wish.
The result is that comparatively less rich people are being deprived of pilgrimage while rich people are enjoying just because of their wealth.
Though the ministry had reduced Haj expenses by Rs17,000 (government schemes) in Hajj Policy 2015, Haj has practically become more expensive under private tour operators schemes and poor people are being deprived as they cannot afford to offer high rates likes Rs400,000 to 800,000 per person.
Secondly, the ministry has assumed the role of a competitor of private Haj tour operators instead of regulator who is supposed to keep a check on private tour operators that they should not earn extraordinary profit from pilgrims.
Pilgrims from Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur have to pay Rs246,231, while passengers from other cities have to pay Rs255,071. The Ministry of Religious Affairs boasts that they are managing Haj at cheaper rates compared to private tour operators. Further details of Haj expenses are as follows,
It’s a fact that the religious affairs ministry is managing Haj under the government schemes at comparatively very low rates compared to private tour operators. But the question is that is it a regulator or competitor of private tour operator?
The ministry has given breakup of Haj expenses such as Quarbani, compulsory residences etc, but private tour operators’ don’t provide details of expenses.
This correspondent contacted many times to approach minister for religious affairs but every time he got the answer that he was busy in local bodies elections in Mansehra. Secretary religious affairs too could not be approached despite repeated attempts.