FAISALABAD
The Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony is actively considering a proposal of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) to replace First-come-First serve formula with a Balloting System for the selection of applicants under official Hajj scheme for 2015, said Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf.
Addressing the business community at FCCI, the minister said that the present government had taken a number of steps to improve Hajj operation in addition to facilitate the intending pilgrims. “It was due to our serious efforts that in Pakistan performing Hajj was cheaper to the tune of $345 as compared to India,” he pointed out, adding that now the ministry was striving to give more facilities to the “guests of Allah” in new Hajj Policy which would be presented before Federal Cabinet for approval by the end of this month. He informed that the Ministry was also pursuing the airline companies to cut down Hajj fares proportionate to decrease in POL prices. He also supported the demand for a Haji Camp in Faisalabad but said that it should be economically viable.
Sardar Yousaf claimed that the SCCI had offered a piece land for the construction of Haji Camp and “we are ready to consider such proposal from FCCI President if it was economically feasible.”
He also pointed out the issues of indiscipline of Pakistan pilgrims, saying that currently they were getting only two-hour training. He said that efforts are being made to give extensive training to the intending pilgrims prior to their departure to the holy land.
The minister informed that timings for Azan and Jamaat had been fixed in Islamabad and he also intended to introduce “Nizam-e-Salat” in other cities as well.
Responding a question regarding handling of Umrah issues, he said that it had already been entrusted to the private sector and after 18th Constitutional amendment its handling had been devolved to the provinces. He revealed that there was a proposal that Umrah operation should also be entrusted to the the Ministry of Religious Affairs. However, this proposal will require comprehensive legislation, he added.
On the occasion, MNA Mian Abdul Mannan recalled last year’s visit of Air Marshal Muhammad Yousaf of Civil Aviation Authority to Faisalabad and told that it was decided that new Faisalabad Airport would be built on Private-Public-Partnership on the pattern of Sialkot airport. In this connection Govt has also earmarked 25 Acre of land near Chak Jhumra, he said and added that number of facilities including Haji Camp, Custom Office, Air Cargo, Ware Houses, Business Houses and shopping arcade had also been proposed.
Earlier, FCCI President Engr Rizwan Ashraf in his welcome address assured that business community would take care of intending pilgrims voluntarily. He demanded FCCI representation in the Committee to be formed to look after the Haji Camp.

‘Moin be punished for visiting casino’
There seems to be no end in sight for Pakistan Cricket Board chief selector’s visit to a casino in Brisbane, as Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Monday that Moin Khan should be punished for visiting the casino during the World Cup.
“Gambling is haram and any Muslim taking part in it should be punished,” media reports quoted the federal minister as saying.