Summary Hajj quota for chambers being worked out, says minister
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor said on Saturday work on the Hajj quota for the members and workers of the chambers of commerce and industry was under way.
He disclosed this at a meeting with businessmen here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), where LCCI President Kashif Anwar highlighted various issues being faced by the Hajj and Umrah operators. Lahore Chamber s Senior Vice President Chaudhry Zafar Mahmood, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani and LCCI Standing Committee convener Abdul Jabbar Anjum also spoke.
The federal minister said the ministry would soon find a way for Hajj and Umrah quota system for the LCCI members and staff. "Our relations with the business community are very close to our heart," he said and added that all suggestions and demands, presented by the LCCI, would be forwarded to the platforms concerned. He said the suggestions related to the Ministry of Religious Affairs should be forwarded in writing so that these could be resolved as soon as possible.
He said the Islamic economic system was based on welfare of humanity. The business in a right way is also worship and the ranks of righteous businessmen are high in Islam, he added. He promised to take up all Hajj-related matters with Saudi authorities in consultation with 65 ministers of Muslim countries.
LCCI President Kashif Anwar said that keeping in view the current economic situation, there was an urgent need for amnesty scheme so that the dollars, that people have in Pakistan but not declared, could be circulated in economy. By encouraging people through amnesty scheme, the government could bring a lot of foreign exchange into the country. He requested the federal minister to raise this proposal in the National Assembly.
Kashif Anwar said that there was a dire need to revamp the system of monitoring the private Hajj organisers. Apart from this, while fixing the package of the private Hajj scheme, other expenses including the fare of airlines must be kept in mind so that there was no injustice to any party. He said that during Hajj and Umrah, private Hajj and Umrah operators were harassed by monitoring teams and this issue should also be addressed.
