05 December 2004	Sunday	22 Shawwal 1425

HYDERABAD, Dec 4: State Minister for Religious Affairs and Zakat and Ushr Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain has said that Haj operations will be given to the private sector and existing Haj policy is being reviewed for major changes.

He said that a summary had been submitted to the president and prime minister, seeking their permission to allow private airlines of Dubai to ferry pilgrims.

He was speaking to a group of journalists at the Government Nazareth Girls' College after presiding over a Mehfil-i-Milad on Saturday.

He said that the Haj policy was formulated last year when he was not minister.

He said that it was an admitted fact that pilgrims always faced difficulties due to various causes and added that this year he would be present in Jeddah on the fourth day of Eidul Azha in order to oversee the departure of every group of pilgrims.

He said that under the new policy it had been planned that elderly people would be given residential accommodation closer to Holy Kaaba.