PTI govt abolishes subsidy on Hajj

[shah_1]

PTI govt abolishes subsidy on Hajj


ISLAMABAD: Amid many speculations about the decision on Hajj subsidy, the government has decided to abolish the financial support given to pilgrims.

The decision was taken during the federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minster Imran Khan, in Islamabad on Thursday.

The high-level huddle was presented the Hajj policy for 2019 and it was also apprised that the Ministry for Religious Affairs decided to grant subsidy of Rs45,000 to each pilgrim.

However, after being briefed on the government’s Hajj expenses, the federal cabinet decided to end the subsidy and approved the Hajj policy 2019.

Govt’s subsidy on Hajj is permissible: Council of Islamic Ideology

According to the new policy, the Hajj expenses have been divided into two parts, peoples who will be travelling from south zone of the country will have to pay a amount of Rs436,975 and for the north zone the total amount will be Rs4,26,000.

Sourced said that people of age 80 and above and the people who could not be named in balloting for consecutively three years will be able to go for the holy journey without balloting.

The government quota for pilgrims will be 60% and the private travel agencies’ will get a share of 40%. The applications for Hajj will be received from February 20 and 184,210 pilgrims will perform the sacred ritual this year, as per the new policy.

Hajj expenses increase up to 58 per cent

A day earlier, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) said that subsidy on Hajj is permissible and the government can provide grants to minimise the expenses of the holy journey.

“The government can grant subsidy on Hajj from any source except Zakat,” CII chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz said.

The PML-N government had sanctioned subsidy of Rs45,000 for each pilgrim during its last tenure.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1901067/1-pti-govt-abolishes-subsidy-hajj/

 

[Fahdi]

Why was there a subsidy on Hajj in the first place? 45000 per pilgrim and you have pilgrims in the hundreds of thousands. Billions being wasted. Hajj is only obligatory if the person can afford it, the government subsidising it to make it more affordable makes no sense.

 

[Gollum]

Very good. Why should the government provide this subsidy when Hajj is an "individual" duty for those who are able to afford it financially? That includes without any handouts including from the government.

 

[Syed1]

The first rule of Hajj is you have to perform it if YOU can afford, not if your government can afford it.

Excellent decision. Although the mullah brigade won't like it.

 

[slipcatch]

T conservative, religious, fanatic, radical Khan at it, again.

Something an over educated self righteous claim to be a liberal wouldn't be able to say.



Good decision by the government.

 

[Bewal Express]

I agree with the decision but it's the type of decision that causes too much bad PR in the short term.

 

[Zeeraq]

People deprived of Hajj subsidy by govt claiming to establish ‘Riyasat-e-Madina’: Shehbaz

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Friday came down hard on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government saying same people who claimed to establish an Islamic welfare state like ‘Riyasat-e-Madina’ had made it financially difficult for the masses to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

Speaking during a session of the lower house of parliament, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president flayed the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan for considering the holy pilgrimage as a profit earning opportunity, Express News reported.

Hajj Policy 2019 was announced on Thursday, under which the price of a government sponsored Hajj, including the sacrifice, has been increased to around Rs456,000 from last year’s Rs280,000 per person. The total difference in Hajj prices since last year amounts to Rs176,000.

Shehbaz, during today’s speech, further said the incumbent government had introduced the most expensive Hajj policy in the country’s history, adding that PM Imran’s cabinet was the first that failed to provide any subsidy on the holy pilgrimage. “Why weren’t money saved form decrease in oil’s prices in international market among other benefits given to pilgrims? Our government successfully managed to keep Hajj and Eidul Azha [expenses] under people’s reach until 2018,” he added.

The former Punjab chief minister said the opposition will also raise the issue of price hike in Hajj packages in the National Assembly.

Shebaz’s criticism comes hours after opposition parties in the Senate rejected the increase in Hajj expenses and Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami presented a call to attention notice to address the issue.

Expressing disappointment over the abolition of subsidy and the new Hajj policy, the senator reminded the government of its promise to transform the country into an Islamic welfare state.

The government was also criticised for not providing any relief to the public and the senator added that the recent 62 per cent increase in the cost of Hajj has rendered it too expensive for most people.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/190173...-claiming-establish-riyasat-e-madina-shehbaz/

 

[Bewal Express]

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Friday came down hard on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government saying same people who claimed to establish an Islamic welfare state like ‘Riyasat-e-Madina’ had made it financially difficult for the masses to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

Speaking during a session of the lower house of parliament, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president flayed the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan for considering the holy pilgrimage as a profit earning opportunity, Express News reported.

Hajj Policy 2019 was announced on Thursday, under which the price of a government sponsored Hajj, including the sacrifice, has been increased to around Rs456,000 from last year’s Rs280,000 per person. The total difference in Hajj prices since last year amounts to Rs176,000.

Shehbaz, during today’s speech, further said the incumbent government had introduced the most expensive Hajj policy in the country’s history, adding that PM Imran’s cabinet was the first that failed to provide any subsidy on the holy pilgrimage. “Why weren’t money saved form decrease in oil’s prices in international market among other benefits given to pilgrims? Our government successfully managed to keep Hajj and Eidul Azha [expenses] under people’s reach until 2018,” he added.

The former Punjab chief minister said the opposition will also raise the issue of price hike in Hajj packages in the National Assembly.

Shebaz’s criticism comes hours after opposition parties in the Senate rejected the increase in Hajj expenses and Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami presented a call to attention notice to address the issue.

Expressing disappointment over the abolition of subsidy and the new Hajj policy, the senator reminded the government of its promise to transform the country into an Islamic welfare state.

The government was also criticised for not providing any relief to the public and the senator added that the recent 62 per cent increase in the cost of Hajj has rendered it too expensive for most people.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/190173...-claiming-establish-riyasat-e-madina-shehbaz/

Corrupt Nooras bankrupting the country and then pretending to be pious. Here is a question, has SS ever paid for a single haj or umra from their pocket?

 

[KingKhanWC]

Politcally dumb decision without any real thought put into it. People will save more rather than spend which helps the economy. For many going to Hajj is their dream not Pakistan winning the World Cup or trucks of goods going through CPEC. For some this is their only real happiness in their lives and I think this will lose PTI many votes. They are trying too many things too quickly in a country which is not ready for such quick change.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Isn’t a haj subsidy haram? I thought you could only go on the pilgrimage if you can afford it yourself.

In India the main Muslim bodies were actually lobbying the government to scrap the Indian subsidy due to the reasons above.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

Politcally dumb decision without any real thought put into it. People will save more rather than spend which helps the economy. For many going to Hajj is their dream not Pakistan winning the World Cup or trucks of goods going through CPEC. For some this is their only real happiness in their lives and I think this will lose PTI many votes. They are trying too many things too quickly in a country which is not ready for such quick change.

They have 4.5 years left all this will be forgotten if at the end of their term the economic and security situation is better than before they got in power. These are politically risky decisions but at the same time they are better than destroying your country to get re elected.

 

[shaaik]

Opposition parties in Senate reject 63pc hike in Haj expenses, demand subsidy

The opposition parties in the Senate rejected the 63 per cent increase in Haj expenses and tabled a calling attention notice on Friday.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) submitted the notice. He expressed disappointment over the Haj policy and reminded the government that it had claimed to transform the country into a Madina-like state.

The senator said that the entire nation was worried about the policy. He added that the government should have provided some relief to people in the Haj cost. He said that the recent increase in Haj expenditure has pushed the religious obligation out of the people's reach.

The federal cabinet on Thursday announced the Haj Policy 2019 under which the cost of performing the ritual under the government scheme has been fixed at Rs456,426 (with Qurbani), against last year’s expense of Rs280,000 per person. Now, every individual will have to pay an additional Rs176,426.

Under the Haj Policy 2018, the cost of Haj for individuals in the north of the country was Rs280,000 and for the south, it was Rs270,000. However, in the new policy, the cost of Haj for individuals in the north has been fixed at Rs456,426 (with Qurbani) and Rs436,975 (without Qurbani), while for those in the south it is Rs446,426 (with Qurbani) and Rs426, 975 (without Qurbani).

Ahmed, on Friday, termed the move a "drone attack" and said that Haj has become a target of 'tsunami'. He regretted that the government didn't seek recommendation from the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) before deciding on the matter pertaining to a religious obligation.

He said that introducing the new policy was tantamount to refraining people from performing Haj, adding that the government "should not invite ill wishes" of pilgrims.

"The government claiming to be a Madina state is refraining people from visiting Makkah and Madina," he said, claiming that the same government had announced to spend billions for restoration of cinemas.

He suggested that instead of spending billions of rupees for restoration of cinemas, the government should subsidise Haj.

PPP leader Raza Rabbani pointed out the absence of Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri in the ongoing session. He asked the treasury benches if the minister was angry. "Neither did he address the press conference on Haj policy [yesterday], nor has he responded in the Senate to the notice."

In yesterday's cabinet meeting, Qadri had reportedly walked out after his proposal for a subsidy of Rs45,000 per pilgrim was rejected by his fellow members of the federal cabinet. Sources said that Qadri was due to accompany the information minister at the press briefing.

The information minister, however, denied reports that Qadri was to be present at the presser.

Senator Shibli Faraz of the PTI told the Senate on Friday that the minister was not angry.

State Minister Ali Mohammad Khan responded to the notice, saying the government was standing by its stance of establishing a Madina-like state.

The minister clarified that 70 per cent of expenditures are made in Saudi Arabia and the government has no control over expenditures there. He further elaborated that expenses for accommodation, meals and other services have drastically been increased in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"The government has been trying to provide some relief," he said.

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjarani suggested that provision of further subsidy to Haj pilgrims would be a better move.

Madinah model does not mean provision of free Hajj, says religious affairs minister
Federal Minister of Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri also spoke to the media regarding the matter on Friday that "the Riyasat-i-Madinah model that the government keeps talking about is [a model that should] bring well-being to the people, the abolition of poverty, the [creation of] an educated society, development of infrastructure and the turning Pakistan into a welfare state."

"The Riyasat-i-Madinah [model] certainly does not mean sending people to Hajj for free and throw the nation's subsidy at it. [It does not mean] that those on whom [the pilgrimage is] mandated upon, do it using the peoples' money."

The minister did, however, say "yes, had it [a subsidy] been given, it would have been great."

Walkout over ministers' absence
Raza Rabbani recorded his protest over the absence of ministers from the session. He said that the opposition had demanded to ensure presence of the relevant minister over the issue of Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. He accused the government of deliberately ensuring that the PMDC chairman doesn't appear before the Senate.

"[We] raised the issue of dialogue between the United States and [Afghan] Taliban but didn't receive any response," he said, adding that the Senate was being kept in the dark.

He added that Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the director general of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), held a detailed interview on Jan 27, in which it appeared that he was well aware of all details [pertaining to the dialogues].

"Will you inform us about the details after culmination of the talks?" he asked.

Later, the opposition parties staged a walkout in protest against the absence of ministers. Following the walkout, the session was adjourned as the quorum was pointed out.

On Jan 25, the Senate chairman had shared same concerns and sought a reply from Prime Minister Imran Khan over the continuous absence of PTI ministers from Senate proceedings.

While Senate proceedings were underway, the chairman had instructed the Senate Secretariat to write a letter to the premier, informing him of the ministers' absence and inquiring as to why these lawmakers had not been attending the house's proceedings.

"The ministers have made a habit of not attending the Senate session," the chairman had said, adding that his dissatisfaction at the ministers' absence should be conveyed to the premier.

Earlier today, the Senate approved budget recommendations by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance. Senator Farooq Naek presented the recommendations

https://www.dawn.com/news/1461192/o...ject-63pc-hike-in-haj-expenses-demand-subsidy

 

[KingKhanWC]

They have 4.5 years left all this will be forgotten if at the end of their term the economic and security situation is better than before they got in power. These are politically risky decisions but at the same time they are better than destroying your country to get re elected.

It will take more than one term. I just think it's a poor move which alienates the poor people. PTI should concentrate on the rich first inc Army figures but I've yet to hear any cuts to army budgets?

 

[slipcatch]

Isn’t a haj subsidy haram? I thought you could only go on the pilgrimage if you can afford it yourself.

In India the main Muslim bodies were actually lobbying the government to scrap the Indian subsidy due to the reasons above.

Nothing against you.
It is a general statement, the word "haram" is only apply to those thing that are "haram", meaning forbidden.

Haj should be only perform if the person can afford in terms of health and money. It isn't government job to make it affordable for you, specially in a country like Pakistan.

Instead of giving subsidy to Haj, that money will be better serve to improve the quality of education and live of poor.

Good decision by the government and they will not be losing any votes.

 

[Bewal Express]

It will take more than one term. I just think it's a poor move which alienates the poor people. PTI should concentrate on the rich first inc Army figures but I've yet to hear any cuts to army budgets?

The PR is not great but it's not going to hit the poor people because 4/5 lakh is for the Middle class. Poor people can't afford hajj.

 

[Pakistanian]

the whole subsidy thing was dumb in the first place, you should only go for hajj if you're in good health and have the resources.

 

[KingKhanWC]

the whole subsidy thing was dumb in the first place, you should only go for hajj if you're in good health and have the resources.

No people are not understanding this. You are EXEMPT if you really cant afford it. Otherwise if you have the means, even to save it's an obligation, a must.

It's so expensive now, making it harder for people to go.

My issue is Pakistan is a poor third world country where millions struggle daily. To help people attain happiness once in their life by helping them going to Hajj would be a good move. A nation that spends billions on the armed forces when no other country will ever go to war with it, can always save there.

But I guess its for those who live in Pakistan to decide if this is a good move for them.

 

[Pakistanian]

No people are not understanding this. You are EXEMPT if you really cant afford it. Otherwise if you have the means, even to save it's an obligation, a must.

It's so expensive now, making it harder for people to go.

My issue is Pakistan is a poor third world country where millions struggle daily. To help people attain happiness once in their life by helping them going to Hajj would be a good move. A nation that spends billions on the armed forces when no other country will ever go to war with it, can always save there.

But I guess its for those who live in Pakistan to decide if this is a good move for them.

Cause India no longer exists and Afghanistan is no longer a threat? el oh el.

 

[cric_man]

So Pakistan's 2019 quota is 184,000 hajis. Government gets 60% of that -- 110,000.
Rs 45,000 x 110,000 = Rs 4,950,000,000 = 34M USD which in a bigger scheme of things is chump change

 

[Mann Bharya]

Politcally dumb decision without any real thought put into it. People will save more rather than spend which helps the economy. For many going to Hajj is their dream not Pakistan winning the World Cup or trucks of goods going through CPEC. For some this is their only real happiness in their lives and I think this will lose PTI many votes. They are trying too many things too quickly in a country which is not ready for such quick change.

Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of Sheep.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Cause India no longer exists and Afghanistan is no longer a threat? el oh el.

Nobody can attack a nuclear armed nation.

Lions don't lose sleep over the opinions of Sheep.

Haha good one. It makes no difference to me, I dont live in Paksitan and have been to Hajj. The point was this is not a good political move and a poster above has done the maths, the savings are not significant.

 

[waqar goraya]

Great decision, although there is still chance of a govt uturn on subsidy and they might still provide some. Funny thing is PPP protesting this.

5 billion Rs will have to be subsidized to make 100,000 people happy for a 50k subsidy , when many of them are already well off. All when the government and the people are quite poor. If you can arrange 400k then you probably can also arrange another 50k and if you really can't you should not be depriving your family from basic necessities of life.

There used to be no subsidy on Hajj, only PML N's weak , corrupt government did not incorporate the cost increase into the package last year and subsidized one person around 50k. If the cost was incorporated then this increase would have not looked so abrupt.

 

[Salma_T]

Hajj is an obligation if you can afford it, if you are relying on fund from the govt then can you truly afford it. It seems like what Howard introduced in Australia middle class welfare as this initiative if for those who save a bulk of the money. Good decision but PTI

 

[Mann Bharya]

Nobody can attack a nuclear armed nation.



Haha good one. It makes no difference to me, I dont live in Paksitan and have been to Hajj. The point was this is not a good political move and a poster above has done the maths, the savings are not significant.

Why should government waste money on people who have already gone to Hajj multiple times in the past?

 

[MRSN]

Nobody can attack a nuclear armed nation.



Haha good one. It makes no difference to me, I dont live in Paksitan and have been to Hajj. The point was this is not a good political move and a poster above has done the maths, the savings are not significant.

saving 34M USD is no big deal for you for a country brink of going bankrupt?

 

[MRSN]

Great decision, although there is still chance of a govt uturn on subsidy and they might still provide some. Funny thing is PPP protesting this.

5 billion Rs will have to be subsidized to make 100,000 people happy for a 50k subsidy , when many of them are already well off. All when the government and the people are quite poor. If you can arrange 400k then you probably can also arrange another 50k and if you really can't you should not be depriving your family from basic necessities of life.

There used to be no subsidy on Hajj, only PML N's weak , corrupt government did not incorporate the cost increase into the package last year and subsidized one person around 50k. If the cost was incorporated then this increase would have not looked so abrupt.

won't be surprised with PTI there is always uturns. The only time IK has shown no Uturn policy is by not removing Usman Buzdar. IK biggest problem is he doesn't learn and change himself. Usman Buzdar was a politically disaster move by him but he is rigid and won't admit it. Truly woeful policies so far. Disappointed with PTI and IK.

 

[Savitar]

Isn’t a haj subsidy haram? I thought you could only go on the pilgrimage if you can afford it yourself.

In India the main Muslim bodies were actually lobbying the government to scrap the Indian subsidy due to the reasons above.

In India,the subsidy actually helped Air India running. Rs 450 was actually being utilised by the airlines, either Air India or some other international carriers. It is actually an Air India subsidy.

The Myth of the Haj Subsidy : https://sabrangindia.in/article/myth-haj-subsidy

 

[Bewal Express]

won't be surprised with PTI there is always uturns. The only time IK has shown no Uturn policy is by not removing Usman Buzdar. IK biggest problem is he doesn't learn and change himself. Usman Buzdar was a politically disaster move by him but he is rigid and won't admit it. Truly woeful policies so far. Disappointed with PTI and IK.

Buzdar has a well orchestrated media campaign against him. The media is blackmailing IK because of the reduction in adverts and free money. Please Explain what are the terrible things he has done so far.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

Buzdar has a well orchestrated media campaign against him. The media is blackmailing IK because of the reduction in adverts and free money. Please Explain what are the terrible things he has done so far.

Lol yeah I hear so much about him being bad or useless but what has he actually done wrong. Even before he was made cm they had made him out to be a murder suspect which was all untrue. I do think part of it might be some internal pti fanction wanting the seat.

 

[Bewal Express]

Lol yeah I hear so much about him being bad or useless but what has he actually done wrong. Even before he was made cm they had made him out to be a murder suspect which was all untrue. I do think part of it might be some internal pti fanction wanting the seat.

It's a question that so far no one has answered. Don't get me wrong he hasn't uprooted any trees but so far under his CMship 1000's of acres of land has been freed, land that SS and others connived with criminals to allow​ seizure.

 

[moghul]

Good job.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Good decision. Just hope it's a firm decision with no back tracking under pressure.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday called out those who criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government for withdrawing the subsidy on Haj for this year.

Addressing a ceremony after inaugurating the Railway Live Tracking System and the Thal Express service in Islamabad, the premier — apparently referring to opposition parties — said "these people" ask why the government did not provide a Haj subsidy or make performing the Islamic ritual more affordable.

"If you hadn't left the country in this condition [and] if we didn't have so many debts, then we would certainly send pilgrims [to Haj] for free," Khan said, addressing his critics from the previous governments.

His statement comes on the back of a cabinet-approved 63 per cent increase in the cost of Haj which was met with backlash from opposition lawmakers.

"When a man is in debt he thinks about what he can spend his money on," he analogised.

The prime minister once again attributed the country's economic troubles to corruption, saying in the past people had no fear of being corrupt.

"No one had any fear in the past ten years because after NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance)-one and NRO-two, everyone's fear went away," he said, adding that people did not think they would be caught in Pakistan.

He noted that the country's debt had gone up from Rs6,000 billion to Rs30,000bn over the past ten years.

He said the country was going through difficult times while paying Rs6bn in daily interest on the debt that previous governments had accumulated.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1463405/w...e-if-country-didnt-have-so-many-debts-pm-khan

 

[Banter]

Good. Now when India finally does the same, there won't be complaining whinges from our neighbors about "anti-muslim" decisions by the INdian government.

Oh wait. Those aren't going to stop no matter what gets done.

 

[dhump]

Pay it yourself or stay at home that simple.

 

[princeuk]

This is an interesting decision, whereas it will stop some people from going but in the long run its down to the individual or the family if it can be afforded.

 

[Savak]

Pay it yourself or stay at home that simple.

That's what it should be. Hajj will obligatory should only be done if you can truly afford it. Many Muslims do hajj for their parents, grand parents who didn't have the means to do it.

 

[ILcricket]

Government should not fund religious activities of any sorts . I hope the Indian Government too follows suit & leave religious practices to the individual including construction of religious places .

 

[barah_admi]

This is a very bad decision and those saying it is "do Hajj only if you can" fail to understand that particular caveat of Islam, they also fail to understand how the subsidisation worked in the first place.

It is not as if the Pakistan government outright paid for people to go to Hajj, they paid for a certain percentage of th cost, to make it EASIER for those in a worse financial position than the middle and upper middle class elite, especially in the modern environment where the Saudi government insists on charging taxes (which is actually haram for all the scholars in here).

Under the Islamic ideal, and that proposed by this government, i.e. the creation of the welfare state, the government must aim to ease and facilitate for its people, not to make things harder. The PTI, which I often wanted to be Pakistan's gateway to support, has gone down the hard right wing of austerity and trampling on the wishes of the poor and the destitute.

 

[topspin]

Certain posters need to stop thinking with their molvi cap for a second and realise that the country has far more pressing issues concerning the debt.

 

[slipcatch]

This is a very bad decision and those saying it is "do Hajj only if you can" fail to understand that particular caveat of Islam, they also fail to understand how the subsidisation worked in the first place.

It is not as if the Pakistan government outright paid for people to go to Hajj, they paid for a certain percentage of th cost, to make it EASIER for those in a worse financial position than the middle and upper middle class elite, especially in the modern environment where the Saudi government insists on charging taxes (which is actually haram for all the scholars in here).

Under the Islamic ideal, and that proposed by this government, i.e. the creation of the welfare state, the government must aim to ease and facilitate for its people, not to make things harder. The PTI, which I often wanted to be Pakistan's gateway to support, has gone down the hard right wing of austerity and trampling on the wishes of the poor and the destitute.

Perform Hajj if you can afford it.

Welfare state mean, no one going to bed hungry, having roof over their head.

NOT pay my partial bill for me to go to Hajj. Hajj has nothing to do with being a welfare state, it is quite a simple concept.

A better charity/rewarding would be paying for those who need food/housing than going for hajj by asking for partial payment on their bill from government.

 

[KingKhanWC]

This is a very bad decision and those saying it is "do Hajj only if you can" fail to understand that particular caveat of Islam, they also fail to understand how the subsidisation worked in the first place.

It is not as if the Pakistan government outright paid for people to go to Hajj, they paid for a certain percentage of th cost, to make it EASIER for those in a worse financial position than the middle and upper middle class elite, especially in the modern environment where the Saudi government insists on charging taxes (which is actually haram for all the scholars in here).

Under the Islamic ideal, and that proposed by this government, i.e. the creation of the welfare state, the government must aim to ease and facilitate for its people, not to make things harder. The PTI, which I often wanted to be Pakistan's gateway to support, has gone down the hard right wing of austerity and trampling on the wishes of the poor and the destitute.

Brilliantly put.

You cannot be elected on a socialist agenda, talk about poverty, prices of goods too much etc and then start a wave of austerity measures which only hurt the less fortunate.

It's ok for Imran he visits Medina and sometimes Mecca on every other visit to Saudi which is a regular thing now. What he doesn't understand is people will save for Hajj and pay their gas bills before spending money in shops which will only slow down growth in the economy.

It's the rich who have robbed the nation blindly, yet the poor has to suffer. Not sure how this fits into the 'State of Medina'.

 

[Abdullah719]

If the money saved goes towards educating people, eradicating hunger, etc., it will be excellent for the society.

Hajj is only an obligation on those people who can reasonably afford it. Eradicating hunger, educating people and raising the status of the poor is an obligation upon the state, not subsidising Hajj.