Islamabad, October 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony was held on Tuesday. Chairman Committee, Senator Molana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri chaired the meeting; that was attended by Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Senator Gurdeep Singh, Senator Anwar Lal Dean, Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, Senator Prof. Sajid Mir, Senator Muhammad Akram, Senator Haji Hidayatullah and senior officers of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony. Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony, Dr. Noor-ul-Haq Qadri was present at the meeting as well.

The Committee was briefed in detail of the working and performance of the Ministry. While discussing the Hajj Policy and the issues arising with private Hajj operators, the Committee asserted that details of penalties and blacklisting of companies that fail to deliver must be submitted. It stressed the need for a comprehensive Hajj policy for the coming year; ensuring the comfort of the hujjaj. The Committee was informed that the Road to Makkah Project that was initially started from Islamabad will be extended to provincial capitals as well.

Regarding visiting pilgrimage sites in Iran, the Committee was informed that it plans to introduce cruise services to Bandar Abbas and Najaf. Minority members of the Committee stressed the need for formulating a policy for Pakistan’s minorities to ensure they are able to visit their places of pilgrimage with ease. The Committee recommended that the Ministry must streamline the procedure of moon sighting in the country and that celebrating Eid on one day across the country must be ensured.

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