The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs has proposed allowing each Member of the National Assembly (MNA) to nominate 10 people for Hajj every year, while also recommending the dispatch of an annual 10-member parliamentary delegation to Madinah at government expense.
The proposal was discussed during a committee meeting held on Monday under the chairpersonship of MNA Shagufta Jamani.
The committee suggested that the official delegation travel to Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) to present salutations on behalf of the Pakistani nation.
The delegation would also offer nawafil at Masjid-e-Nabvi and perform Umrah in Makkah.
Committee members said similar delegations had visited in the past and proposed institutionalizing the practice by sending a parliamentary delegation to Madinah and Makkah every year.
Under the proposal, family members of delegation members may also accompany them. In the absence of the National Assembly Speaker, the committee chairperson would lead the delegation, while the speaker would nominate its members.
Chairperson Shagufta Jamani stressed that the National Assembly should bear all expenses, arguing that self-funded travel could not be termed an official delegation. Committee members unanimously endorsed her position.
The recommendations will be forwarded for further consideration and approval.