Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

A handout picture provided by Saudi Ministry of Media on August 2, 2020 shows Muslim pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, while mask-clad and along specific pre-ordained rings as measures due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, on the final day of the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage. - Massive crowds in previous years triggered deadly stampedes during the ritual, but this year only up to 10,000 Muslims are taking part after millions of international pilgrims were barred because of the covid-19 pandemic crisis. (Photo by - / Saudi Ministry of Media / AFP) / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / SAUDI MINISTRY OF MEDIA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ===

National

With $90m foreign exchange cover, ECC approves Hajj policy 2023

On Monday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony presented a summary to the cabinet committee, chaired by Federal Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, proposing the Hajj Policy 2023.

The committee approved the policy and agreed to provide $90 million in foreign exchange cover for Hajj operations.

The finance ministry announced in a press statement that the Hajj quota for Pakistan this year is 179,210.

The finance ministry issued a statement stating that Pakistan’s hajj quota for the year 2023 is 179,210.

The Government and Private Hajj schemes will have an equal distribution of quota.

Moreover, In 2023, the northern region’s tentative Hajj package will be Rs1,175,000/- and the southern regions will be Rs1,165,000/-.

Dollar shortage: 90,000 Pakistanis may not perform Hajj

Due to economic constraints.

The government has decided to allocate half of the Hajj quota to Pakistanis living abroad in an effort to prevent the outflow of approximately $400 million.

According to a finance ministry official:

Saudi Arabia has granted a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims to Pakistan this year.

But due to the country’s severe economic limitations, it cannot afford a significant capital flight.

Therefore,

The government has resolved to offer 89,605 spots to non-resident Pakistanis, who may either use the quota themselves or sponsor someone from Pakistan.

Moreover, Officials anticipate that by allocating half of the quota to non-resident Pakistanis, the country could save roughly $400 million.

Grant approved for census, poverty alleviation

The Planning Commission received approval for a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs12 billion from the ECC for conducting the 7th Population & Housing Census.

And the Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety received Rs3,244 million for the National Poverty Graduation Programme (NPGP).

The ECC deferred a summary presented by the Ministry of National Food Security & Research on Urea Fertilizer requirements for the year 2023.

Along with instructions to incorporate recommendations from the committee formed by the ECC on the gas distribution plan, which was headed by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Moreover,

The Ministry of Industries and Production submitted a summary of Solar Panel & Allied Equipment Manufacturing Policy-2023.

And then, that was deferred by the ECC with instructions to review and revise the proposed policy considering input from all stakeholders.

Furthermore, The meeting was attended by several high-level officials:

Which includes:

The Federal Minister for Power, Khurram Dastgir Khan; the Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Syed Murtaza Mahmud; the Federal Minister for Commerce, Syed Naveed Qamar; the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony, Mufti Abdul Shakoor; Minister of State for Petroleum, Musadik Masood Malik; MNA/Ex-PM, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi; SAPM on Finance, Tariq Bajwa; SAPM on Revenue, Tariq Mehmood Pasha, federal secretaries, and other senior officers.

Written By

Pavan Manzoor is an experienced content writer , editor and social media handler along with a track record of youth-oriented activities in Pakistan and abroad. She was selected as a fully-funded delegate as a leadership fellow in Turkey. She also led a team of 5 volunteers at the week-long Young Professionals Fellowship in Maldives. She is also a member of the Youth Standing Committee on Higher Education.

Economy

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, will help Ugandan authorities to establish a Halal Authentication Laboratory in...

Articles

Daesh gunmen killed at least 143 Russians in an attack on a concert mall in Moscow and injured dozens of others. The callous attack...

Latest Updates

The Russia’s Interior Ministry stated on Saturday that the four suspected gunmen arrested after Friday night's deadly attack were foreigners, with some media outlets...

Politics

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat clarified to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that he did not directly accuse Punjab Chief Minister...