Latest news with #MalikMuhammadAamirDogar
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Umrah or Hajj: Govt seeks CII's guidance on ‘Mehram requirement' for female pilgrims
ISLAMABAD: The government has sought Council of Islamic Ideology (CII)'s guidance to decide that whether Mehram requirement for female pilgrims intending to perform Umrah or Hajj can be withdrawn or not. In the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony's meeting held under the chairmanship of Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar, Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf Zaman apprised the committee that on the prime minister's instructions, the Religious Affairs Ministry is drafting a new Hajj policy as per requirements of the Saudi Government. He apprised the committee that according to new Saudi policy requirement for female pilgrims to accompany Mehram (male relative/husband) is no more required. On which, Senator Mujahid Ali said that Meharm is a religious requirement so how come Saudi Government can exempt it. On which, the minister said the government has asked the CII to guide it on this matter. The minister said this year, Hajj operation remained one of the finest. He said even in Mushahir and Arafat, air condition facility was provided to the pilgrims. 'During the Hajj whoever lodged the complaint the ministry addressed it on the spot and that's why the prime minister congratulated our ministry for the successful operation,' he said. Sardar Yousaf admitted that 63,000 intended pilgrims couldn't perform Hajj because of some technical problems and miscommunication. He said the amount 365 million Riyals is lying with Saudi Government. He said private Hajj operators want the government to give priority to those intending pilgrimage next year who have already deposited the amount and the prime minister also asked the ministry to give them priority. He said because of the rising cost of Hajj, the government is considering allowing pilgrims to pay in instalments. The members of the committee asked the ministry that due to higher cost of travel, the government should explore the option to start travelling through sea because travelling through ships is much cheaper. The officials of the ministry told the committee that they already on the feasibility of this option. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Roya News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
67,000 Pakistanis left in limbo after Hajj funds sent to wrong Saudi account
Thousands of Pakistani pilgrims risk missing this year's Hajj after the government mistakenly transferred millions of dollars in payments to the wrong Saudi account, officials confirmed this week. Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar, chair of Pakistan's Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, told lawmakers that around 50 million Saudi riyals ( USD 13.3 million) meant for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj were instead sent to an account reportedly linked to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Dogar described the incident as one of the 'biggest scandals in the country's history," warning that 67,000 Pakistanis who had booked through the government's system could be left unable to travel. 'This is not just about money — it's about the dreams and faith of 67,000 Pakistanis,' he said. Dogar called for an investigation into whether government officials or private Hajj operators were responsible and demanded refunds if the pilgrims' journeys could not proceed. Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, federal minister for religious affairs, expressed regret and promised efforts were underway to recover the funds. He said the government had already secured an additional 10,000 Hajj slots and was negotiating for more. The error has worsened Pakistan's broader Hajj management crisis this year. Of the 179,210 Hajj places granted to Pakistan by Saudi Arabia, half were allocated to private operators, who have so far filled only 23,000 slots. Private companies blame delays on Saudi Arabia's new online booking system, while government officials accuse them of deliberately stalling. The mistake could also affect Pakistani dual nationals living in Europe and the Americas who registered for Hajj through Pakistan's portal after Saudi Arabia centralized bookings in countries such as the United Kingdom and United States.
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NA panel concerned over Moavineen-e-Hujjaj's selection process
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Friday expressed its concern regarding the selection process of Moavineen-e-Hujjaj and discussed its drawbacks in detail. The meeting, held under the Chairmanship of Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar in the Parliament House, directed the ministry to submit the NTS exam paper, the list of selected Moavineen, and details of the selection process in other Muslim countries at the next committee meeting. The committee members urged the ministry to closely review the current process and eliminate unnecessary obstacles for Moavineen who wish to serve pilgrims with a religious spirit. They emphasized the need for the ministry to adopt a more practical selection process from the next year instead of relying on NTS, which imposes a high-test fee and other expenses. They recommended that the ministry arrange proper training courses for the selected candidates in accordance with Hajj Ta'leemaat. The committee reviewed the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of the ministry for the financial year 2025-2026. Additional Secretary, Dr. Syed Atta-ur-Rehman informed the committee that the ministry's various wings and all Haji Camps are in the process of preparing proposals for new projects. Once finalized, these proposals will be presented before the committee. He briefed the committee on ongoing project – the construction of the Hajj Complex in Lahore.
