Whatever Saudis think is not always right and true.

Using Haj, Saudi is earning money like anything; even not sparing people from poor countries. This is something Imran Khan should raise with the King. Hoping that he will listen.

So its business, tourism over pilgrimage.

That will increase prices ridiculously higher as private operators will be motivated by profit - not a bad thing but the poor may be priced out.

Haj is obligatory for those who are free of debts while we as a nation are buried in debts...

Yes, Government has nothing to do with religious duties, Haj and other related visits be with private sector, with licenses to operate, but Government must listen complains, revoke the licenses and punish the frauds.

Government is making bold decession

Government should have no role in Haj. I can’t believe all political point scoring in Haj subsidy.

First you need keep hold of private hajj operators, make some policies and make them abide by those policies, otherwise they will make life miserable for the common people.

The Saudi should know...this will discourage people from Hajj... A very important tenant of Islam.

Even Britsh empire and india used to give subsidy to hajj. It is more than regret that our govt looks Hajj as a mean of earning. Turkey and Iran give huge subsidies to their people performing Hajj. Saudis are making money out of this ritual are not the best example to rip off our own people by allowing private tour operators.

Hand Over hajj operation to private operators but make sure their services adhere to specified standards and prevent monopoly/cartel formation

A very sensible suggestion. Government should decide policy, and keep vigilance for any unacceptable behaviour. Whereas the actual businesses should be done privately, within reason.

In recent years saudia has turned haj and umra into big business. A country in huge debt like Pakistan should not give too much subsidies.

Yes, please!

The exchange rate of dollars from 100 to 140 will itself increase price to 40%. Plus adding new taxes and price hike in saudia will push up the prices.

How will the relatives of the high and mighty people perform Haj? No way they could be made to cough up their own dough for the pilgrimage. For that purpose only if for none other, governmental quota allocations are necessary.

Brilliant thinking by Saudis...private operators means...it would be easier to skim more money for Saudi elite!

Three billion dollars don’t come free. There has to be a way to pay those back

So the Saudis are going to dictate your Haj policies ? Why not say that you want to share some money out of the loot !

@Shah, There should not be any subsidies for Haj, It should be performed by own resources I.e., hard and honestly earned money - No breibes, not stolen money.

Government needs to not only get out of the Haj business but also from the business of religion completely. There should be no ministry of religious affairs as per Jinnah’s vision. Let the people and the private sector deal with it .

It is not govt responsibility to send people on hajj. It is the religious obligation for those who could afford it.

For social justice for everybody haj has to be performed at one's own expenses without any subsidy from the government.

Hajj is an obligation on an individual who can afford. The government has no role in it. Leave it to an individual to organise how he will perform Hajj. The government should provide a policy framework to oversee the sector.

Saudi govt need money. They want hajj the most expensive .Time for muslim world to control Mecca and Madina jointly.

State must not have anything to do with religion.

Including the major hospitality industry (hotels)?

Guess they feel from PPP and PML-N days, the government operators are too corrupt.

Saudi’s should adapt their own suggestions to set a good example, but the Saudi’s will never give up that role, there’s billions involved yearly. Why would they suggest that to the Pakistanis ?

@Mahesh, Mind your own business !

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, neither is whatever they say.

Government s never succeed in business any where in the world.

Privitize all including PIA

That will be a straight route to profit making for Pakistani Pvt. companies as well as Saudis from haj. This is the same principle they have put forward for Muslim living in foreign countries like US where for this year 2019 the haj would cost $12000,00 for each person. Those who are proposing this are forgetting it would become almost impossible for the poor or who are less privileged to perform haj.

blaming it on the Govt would be wrong. ....

it is true. the cost of Hajj is going up and up for the last few years. the cost is mainly in S.Arab not out side it. the accommodation, the taxes etc are the reason. sadly the govt of S.Arab should be making it cheaper for people to do Hajj but instead the hotels around the Kabah are a prime example of how they've turned this into a profitable business. they are looking past oil now !

even Hajj from western countries is becoming a dream now..in the past it was affordable but now its going beyond reach

Hajj expenses are becoming unreachable for poor in Pakistan and now only Elite class can afford it.

@Ahmed bin Babar, PTI on path to continue to make us more indebt.

It should be paid expenses by individuals and will not be right to travel on tax payers money, let it be any country/religion...just a thought!