ECC allows outsourcing financing of half of quota to save $444m
The government on Monday approved increasing the Hajj expenses to Rs1.175 million per pilgrimage – a surge of 68% over the past year – and also allowed outsourcing the financing of half of the quota to save $444 million amid a severe economic crunch.
The decisions were taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (EEC) of the cabinet, which also sanctioned a Rs12 billion budget for the conduct of the 7th population census amid the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) objections over the digital headcount.
Following a warning by party chairman Bilal Bhutto Zardari about quitting the government, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar also raised objections during the ECC meeting.
However, the chairman of the EC, Ishaq Dar, advised the minister to take up the matter with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A finance ministry handout stated that the Ministry of Religious Affairs submitted a summary on Hajj Policy 2023.
The total foreign currency requirements for 2023 Hajj were $534 million – a sum that is equal to 14% of the country’s official foreign exchange reserves as of last week.
The ECC after discussion approved Hajj-2023 policy and agreed to provide foreign exchange cover of $90 million, it added.
Source: tribune express
