A meeting of the Federal Cabinet was held today at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
- The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, approved the Haj Policy for 2025. The Cabinet was informed that Pakistan’s Haj quota for 2025 will be 210,179, which will be divided equally between the government and the private sector (50:50). As per the policy, children under the age of 12 will not be allowed to travel for Haj in 2025. The government quota will be allotted through a computerized balloting system. 1,000 seats will be reserved for hardship cases, and 300 seats will be designated for workers or low-income employees, who are registered with the Workers Welfare Fund or the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI). The ‘Road to Makkah’ facility will be available at the international airports in Islamabad and Karachi. Haj Group Organizers will sign service provider agreements with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and their services will be closely monitored. The Cabinet was also informed that a new position of ‘Nazim’ will be introduced to oversee the provision of better services to pilgrims. A Nazim will be appointed for every 100 pilgrims, chosen from the welfare staff. Furthermore, the Cabinet was informed that the compensation for pilgrims who die or are injured during Haj has been increased. The heirs of deceased pilgrims will receive compensation ranging from 1 million to 2 million Pakistani Rupees, while injured pilgrims will receive 1 million Pakistani Rupees. The Cabinet was also informed that a special Haj management mobile application has been developed, and special arrangements have been made for the training of pilgrims.
- The Federal Cabinet directed that priority be given in the Haj balloting to those individuals who will be performing Haj for the first time. The Cabinet further instructed that all necessary measures be taken to ensure the provision of the best possible facilities to pilgrims.
- The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Planning, approved the appointment of Saeed Iqbal, Mazoom Ahmed, Madiha Khalid, Usman Haider, and Muhammad Sajad Farooqi as private members on the Board of the Public-Private Partnership Authority.
- The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, authorized the post-facto approval of the agreement for the transition of Foreign Commercial Financing Facility from the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).
- The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, approved the Jammu and Kashmir State Property Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.
- The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, approved the agreement between the Directorate General of Ports and Shipping, Karachi, and the Marine Classification Society regarding the certification of maritime vessel classification.