Government's new Hajj policy (2014) has been challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC). An application was filed on Friday in the LHC in which the petitioner raised objections over allotment of quota to private Hajj operators and government's Hajj fares. He stated that under government scheme the Hajj package will cost over Rs 272,000 for those travelling from Punjab and KPK but the private operators are charging over Rs 500,000.
The LHC has summoned Attorney General of Pakistan for assistance in the matter. Over 143,000 Hujjaj will perform Hajj this year under the new Hajj policy announced in April this year. The original Hajj quota of 179,210 allocated to Pakistan for year 2012 was reduced by 20 per cent last year due to expansion plan of Haram Sharif and was accordingly fixed as 143,368. The Hajj scheme 2014 will be implemented through government scheme and private Hajj group organisers (HGOs) in the ratio of 50 per cent each.