President of Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) Mian Zahid Hussain has demanded withdrawal of additional tax imposed by Saudi kingdom on those who want to perform Hajj or Umrah. "Imposition of an additional tax by Saudi government will hit Pakistanis the most because around 200,000 Pakistanis perform Hajj and some one million perform Umrah, annually," he said.
Mian Zahid urged the Pakistan government to take up the matter with the concerned Saudi authorities as it would also hit the business of tour operators and the airlines. He said that a reason behind imposing a new tax is that the number of people going for Hajj and Umrah was increasing every year which increased the risk of unnecessary accidents such as stampedes.
"Saudi government thinks that the new rule will help it improve Hajj and Umrah management to avoid any untoward situation, he cited. It is relevant to add here that the Saudi government has taken the decision to avoid the unnecessary rush and to give chance to new aspirants by discouraging those who have repeatedly performed Hajj and Umrah. After the imposition of new tax, pilgrims who have performed Hajj in 2014, 2015 and 2016, will have to pay an additional fee of 2000 Saudi Riyal if they go to pilgrimage this year as well, under both government and private schemes.