Panel rejects ministry’s Haj cost package

The National Committee for Haj and Umrah has expressed reservations over Haj rates announced by the Haj Ministry, saying that the pricing should be jacked up.
The committee, which ostensibly protects the interests of Haj operators, feels that the pricing will lead to heavy losses for the operators. 

Earlier, Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar announced that the minimum and maximum costs of Haj this year will be SR3,000 and SR11,890, respectively.
According to the announcement, Haj charges have been divided into various categories such as low, medium, top and supreme.
The committee said some points in the ministry’s announcement were completely different from those agreed upon by the two parties. Some of these points contradict with some provisions of inland pilgrims' regulations and those regulations applicable in Civil Defense and Ministries of Haj and Municipal and Rural Affairs.

The Haj Ministry has assigned a consulting team to work out a preliminary study on Haj rates and e-portal but it (the study) proved to be inefficient because it depended on an un-specialized firm and, therefore, the findings were disappointing to the pilgrims and the sector, the committee said.

The ministry had asked the Haj services sector, including the National Committee for Haj and Umrah and Coordinating Committee of Inland Hajis, to give their viewpoints in this regard. Accordingly, a six-member committee came out with a quality pricing and service program and discussed it with the ministry but, surprisingly, the ministry issued the new rates without considering their views of the Haj services sector, the committee said.
The panel said it would submit its reservations to the leader and high-ranking officials on the Haj rates and the electronic facilities.