The Saudi government announces that from now they would be charging for the Aab-e-Zam Zam.
According to reports, People going for Hajj from Pakistan will now have to pay for Aab-e-Zam Zam when they bring it back to their country.
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People returning from Hajj will be given a five-litre bottle upon their arrival in Pakistan and will be charged Saudi Arabian Riyal 15 (almost Rs1,114) for the bottle. However, the value being charged is for the plastic bottle and not the water it is carrying.
The new rule means that Hajj will become a little more expensive for every pilgrim. This year Rs200 million will have to be paid to the Saudi government under this head alone and the payment will be made in dollars.
“Pakistani pilgrims will pay Rs200 million (in the form of US dollars) to the Saudi government to get 896,000 litres of the water,” reports added.
Each pilgrim will have to pay Rs1,114 in addition to the Hajj fees they are already paying. A total of 179,000 people from Pakistan will perform Hajj this year. They will be provided a total of 896,000 litres of Aab-e-Zam Zam.
Remember that the water comes from the well of Zam Zam near the Holy Kaaba in Makkah and is an important souvenir for people returning from Hajj. Pilgrims often distribute the water among friends and family with the belief that it carries the blessings from the holiest site for Muslims.
