ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi has said that the present government has taken on board the madaris to streamline their education system that meets the contemporary day requirements.

In an interview, the federal minister pointed out the huge network of madaris in the country is providing free boarding and lodging to the poor students. He said the government desires that these madaris offer education not only in religious but also the present day subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and Computer Science.

This, he said, will open new vistas of opportunities for Madrassa students to choose profession in diverse fields and contribute in the national economy. He said the government is cognizant of the limited resources of the madaris and is ready to extend financial assistance to help them introduce modern day education in their institutes.

He, however, clarified that such assistance should not imply that the government wants to interfere or monitor the affairs of the religious schools. To a question, Hamid Saeed Kazmi said talks are being held with the madrassa officials to remove their reservations on various matters.

Responding to a question about Hajj arrangements, the minister said the new Hajj policy to be announced in May after cabinet approval would envisage various relief measures for the pilgrims.

He said talks would be held with the airlines operating Hajj flights to persuade them cut their Hajj fares, adding every possible effort would be made to reduce this year’s Hajj expenses. Hamid Saeed Kazmi said the government has also requested the Saudi Authorities to increase Pakistan’s Haj quota and a meeting is scheduled with them next month to discuss the matter.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines has started its post-Hajj flight operation and the first Hajj-flight PK-3002 boarding 321 pilgrims arrived in Quetta from Jeddah on Friday noon. The flight arrived here three hours late due to its belated departure from Jeddah due to technical fault in the plane, officials said, adding, post-Hajj flight operation would carry and tack back 12500 pilgrims belonging to Balochistan from Jeddah Saudi Arabia to Quetta which would be completed by the first of week of January.

A large number of relatives of pilgrims received them upon their arrival here at the airport. Strict security arrangements were made at the airport to avert any eventuality on the occasion. The post Hajj flight operation will bring the Hujjaj-e-Karam back home through 125 schedule and 35 additional flights.

The first return Hajj flight for Lahore reached Friday afternoon at 2.00 pm with 466 passengers on board. PIA officials said that the return Hajj flights to Pakistan from Jeddah Airport would be delayed due to the faulty scanning machine at Bay No.5, allotted for the return PIA Hajj flights.

Although the Saudi government has taken some urgent remedial measures, yet the Hujjaj-e-Karam would be allowed to board the plane only after the repair of the scanning machine.-SANA

MAKKAH: More than two point five million Hujjaj from across the world have assembled in Mina at the start of this year’s annual Haj. Thousands of pilgrims reciting Allah Huma Labaik Allah Huma Labaik arrived in Mina early this morning by buses and on foot from Makkah. The pilgrims will offer Zohr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers in Mina.

After spending the night in Mina, the Hujjaj will leave for Arafat in the morning where they will listen to Hajj Khutba at Masjid-e-Namra and offer Zohr and Asr prayers at the same time. The Hujjaj will depart from Maidan-e-Arafat in the evening and offer the Maghrib and Isha prayers at Muzdalfa. They will spend the whole night in the open sky and seek forgiveness and blessings of Almighty Allah. In the morning, the pilgrims will depart for Mina where they will be stoning the Satan-e-Kabeer. Later they will sacrifice the animals and perform Tawaf-e-Ziarat.

The Saudi government has made commendable arrangements at the tented area of Mina. Arrangements have also been made for clean drinking water facilities, ablutions and the provision of health facilities to Hujjaj from Mina to Arafat.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr on Saturday informed that according to new Saudi regulations, the data of Hujjaj once submitted to them would not be changed. According to a press release issued here, the Ministry has started preparation of passports for the intending pilgrims for Hajj-2008, which would be submitted to Saudi Consulate for endorsement of visas.

“The last date for substitution is October 15,2008 and no case would be entertained thereafter,” it added. The press release also stated that after the expiry of October 15 deadline, the accomodation expenses would be charged from the intending pilgrims, who are unable to proceed for Hajj, while the rest of the amount would be refunded to them. -APP

ISLAMABAD: The training of intending pilgrims selected for Hajj-2008 will be started across the country from October 14. The training Programmes will be conducted in collaboration with local administration at Tehsil and district level.

Several Programmes will also be telecast and air on television and radio to aware the intending pilgrims about the rituals of Hajj. Up to 165,000 intending pilgrims under both government and private schemes will be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year.

According to officials sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 149,323 applications were received under the government scheme which were about 13,000 less in number as compared to last year. As many as 17,890 applicants who were rejected consecutively two years in the ballot, have been declared successful.

This year too, machine readable passport will be issued to the pilgrims. The first Hajj flight will operate on November 2 and 164,647 pilgrims will be airlifted to Saudi Arabia by PIA and Saudi Airlines during 31 days. About 30,000 pilgrims will directly be airlifted to Madina from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airport.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: Federal Ministry for Religious Affairs has forwarded the new Hajj policy to the Supreme Court. The apex court had directed the Religious Affairs Ministry to submit the new Hajj policy by August 31 while hearing of a case of Hajj operators. Advisor to Prime Minister on Religious Affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi told Geo News that the expenses of Hajj had registered increase. Last year a pilgrim had to pay 135,000 for going on a Hajj trip on government quota but this year the amount has surged to Rs200,000. He said the overall price hike has also resulted in the rise of total expenses of performing Hajj. Read the full story

ISLAMABAD: Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Vakil Ahmed Khan has said that there would be no balloting to select pilgrims under government scheme this year. In an interview he said the applications would be invited through designated branches of banks on first come first serve basis. He said about one hundred sixty-five thousand Pakistani pilgrims would perform Hajj this year. Read the full story