Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) is fully committed in serving Pakistani pilgrims under Private Hajj Scheme.

This was stated by HOAP representative and Chief Executive of Al-Hazrat Lil Hajj Shafqatullah Khan during an interview with Radio Pakistan Correspondent Muhammad Akram Khan in Madinah today. 

He said government had allowed us to get 5,62,000 rupees from a Haji for this year's pilgrimage, but he reduced that amount to 5,36,000 rupees to further facilitate the Hujjaj. He said under this package, he provided extra facilities to the pilgrims, including air-conditioned tents in Arafat, a three-star hotel residence within the radius of 600 meters from Masjid-al-Haram in Makkah, and a three-time buffet meal.

To a question, Shafqatullah Khan said they provided hundred percent residence to their pilgrims just 150 meters away from Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, which is too close to the Haram-e-Madani. 

Answering another question, he said HOAP also arranged medical personnel to take care of pilgrims' health related issues.

Shafqatullah Khan said HOAP has the capacity to cater to the needs of the entire quota of Pakistani pilgrims, but it will be better if that share is divided on fifty percent basis between the government and the private tour operators. He informed that only ten percent pilgrims from Bangladesh come under government scheme, while rest of the quota of that country performs under private scheme. Similarly, the entire pilgrims from European countries perform Hajj through private companies.

Akram/Karrar