LAHORE, April 24: The construction of Haji camp in the city will begin shortly, Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq said on Monday.

Speaking at a one-day Haj conference at the Alhamra Art Centre, the minister said the Punjab government was extending all possible assistance for the construction of the camp.

He said the government wanted to encourage Haj tour operators and would consider increase in their quota. The tour operators should also make efforts for offering the best possible facilities to pilgrims.

He said the government intended to increase the Haj quota to 160,000 so that more and more people could fulfil their religious obligation.

The minister said arrangements had been made for the encashment of dollar travellers cheques through the American Express.

He said there was no justification for charging of royalty by the Saudi airlines from PIA without carrying passengers. He also announced acceptance of demand of tour operators to award them licences for three years instead of one year.

He said the government had made arrangements for animal sacrifice through the Islamic Development Bank to check fraud and overcharging. Pilgrims would be issued sacrifice coupons for the purpose before departure. He pointed out that 480 riyals were being charged for sacrifice from every pilgrim whereas it could be offered for 250 riyals as well by purchasing cheaper animals.

He said the ministry had decided to acquire buildings for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia earlier for solving residential problems and transferred $6 million in this regard. The ministry would also include the maps of Makkah, Madina and Arafat in the literature provided to intending pilgrims.

He said a 60-bed hospital had been established in the Pakistan mission in Makkah and a 20-bed facility in Madina for the pilgrims.

He said training facilities would be further improved and tour operators would not be blacklisted on complaints of less than 10 per cent pilgrims of the groups sponsored by them.

Abdullah Usmani said PIA wanted an increase in Haj fare despite charging Rs34,000 against Indian airlines’ fare of Rs13,000 despite covering an extra distance of 586 miles. The government should not approve the proposal.

Punjab Boy Scouts Association Secretary Irshad Ali called for sending outstanding scouts on Haj against the Khaddam-i-Hajjaj quota. Dr Rubina said seriously ill women should not be allowed to proceed for Haj. Tour operators should engage only those persons as guides who knew Arabic.

Private Haj Group Organiser Shahid Rafiq stressed the need for increasing the quota of private Haj operators. Criteria should be evolved for grant of tour operation licences only to persons possessing the requisite resources.

Syed Imtiaz Husain Shah stressed the need for operation of Haj flights from Multan and Faisalabad and issue of travellers cheques in riyals instead of dollars.

Prof Abdul Majid proposed publication of Haj literature in Urdu instead of English.

Federal Joint Secretary for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ilyas Dar and Lahore Haj Director Faroghe Aftab Zaidi also addressed participants of the Haj Conference.