240 organisers registered under private scheme: Ejaz spells out Haj arrangements

Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ejaz-ul-Haq said on Sunday that 240 private 'Haj Organisers' have been registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and will be responsible for sending 50,000 Haj pilgrims under private Haj scheme.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, he said that this year 1,50,000 Pakistanis would perform Haj. Of these, 100,000 will be sent under regular scheme, while 50,000 would perform Haj under private scheme, he added.
He said that a monitoring cell has been set up in the Ministry. It would monitor the working of the private Haj Organisers.
Under private Haj scheme, applications would be received from July 5 to 25. Application forms and amount would be deposited in the organiser's bank account only, as organisers are not allowed to receive cash form Haj pilgrims.
The Minister said that every Haj Organiser is bound to provide a copy of the Haj Package including details of all facilities/services and bank account number etc.
The numbers of seats to group organiser have been allocated on the basis of their past experience, financial capability and credibility.
Since this is the beginning of involving private sector, a lenient view has been taken and condition of 6 years experience has been relaxed.
Newcomers have been allocated 100 seats to encourage them while 200 and above seats have been allocated to experienced organisers, he added.
He said that every Haj group organiser would provide a performance bond and Bank guarantee of Rs 1.5 million or bank draft at the rate of Rs 2000 per Haj seat allocated to them by the Ministry, which is refundable.
About Qurbani, Ejaz-ul-Haq said that a special scheme was being introduced under which Islamic Development Bank at Jeddah would sell coupons at Haji Camps to those pilgrims who were interested in this programme.
Regarding meals, the Minister said that these would be provided to Pakistani Hajis in Mina during five days' stay through Mossasah South Asia at reasonable rates of 100 and 120 Riyal. This would be at the option of Hajis, he added.