Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Dr. Aneeq Ahmed, has emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting religious tourism in Pakistan, noting that it will contribute to the country’s economic growth. He also highlighted the importance of Track-II diplomacy to foster peaceful relations with neighboring countries, which can help boost regional trade and religious tourism in Pakistan.
Dr. Aneeq Ahmed mentioned that the Prime Minister has approved the Hajj Policy 2024, which includes two packages for payment of Hajj dues: one in Pakistani Rupees (PKR) and the other in US Dollars. He encouraged members of the business community to make payments for Hajj in US Dollars to bolster the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Those who opt for US Dollar payments will be able to participate in Hajj without the need for a balloting system.
The minister emphasized the significant role of the business community in Pakistan’s economy and urged them to play an active role in strengthening the economy by promoting trade and exports.
Dr. Aneeq Ahmed made these remarks during a Certificates Distribution Ceremony of the Seerat-ul-Nabi Course organized by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). The ICCI President, Ahsan Zafar, also highlighted the potential for religious tourism in Pakistan and called for the government to allocate a quota for chambers of commerce in the Hajj Policy to facilitate business community members in performing Hajj. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan. Renowned religious scholar Mufti Adnan Kakakhel praised ICCI’s initiative to educate the business community about the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and expressed hope that such programs would continue in the future.
