Dr. Aneeq Ahmed, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said that the government is working hard to promote the religious tourism that would help improve the economy. He highlighted the need of Track-II diplomacy to promote peaceful relations with neighboring countries that would help promote Pakistan’s regional trade and religious tourism. He said that the Prime Minister has approved the Hajj Policy 2024 that would offer two packages for payment of Hajj dues including payment in PKR and in US dollars and stressed that the intended members of business community should make payment of Hajj dues in dollars to help improve the forex reserves of the country. He said that those who would make payment for Hajj in US Dollars would be sent for Hajj without any balloting. He said that the business community is the backbone of the economy and it should play more effective role in strengthening the economy by promoting trade and exports. He said this while addressing as Chief Guest at the Certificates Distribution Ceremony of Seerat-ul-Nabi Course at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that ICCI in cooperation with its Religious Affairs Committee has organized a course on Seerat-ul-Nabi to educate the members about the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH. He said that Pakistan has great potential to promote religious tourism and the government should take all possible measures to take exploit this untapped potential for the benefit of the economy. He said that the government should allocate a quota for chambers of commerce in Hajj Policy to facilitate the business community in performing Hajj. He stressed that the public and private sectors should work in collaboration to make Pakistan a progressive and prosperous country.

Mutfi Adnan Kakakhel, renowned religious scholar and Guest of Honor lauded the initiative of ICCI for organizing a course on Seerat-ul-Nabi for the education of the business community and desired that this practice should be continued in future as well.

Faad Waheed Senior Vice President, Engr. Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Kanwar Qutbuddin former MNA, Zafar Bakhtawari former President & Secretary General UBG Pakistan, Ajmal Baloch President All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran, Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry President Tanzeem-e-Tajran Pakistan, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Zahid Maqbool, Tariq Nusrat Wani Convener ICCI Religious Affairs Committee, Rana Muhammad Aslam, Mehmood Ahmed Warraich and others were present on the occasion. The Chief Guest and the Guest of Honor distributed the certificates to 65 students who completed the Seerat-ul-Nabi course at ICCI.