Hajj directorate launches comprehensive training programme for pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: The Hajj directorate has launched a comprehensive training programme to facilitate intending pilgrims this year.

An official of Ministry of Religious Affairs told APP that the purpose of the training was to provide orientation and awareness of Manasik-e-hajj to the group leaders as well as intending hajj pilgrims at the district and tehsil level.

The programme commencing from next month will continue till September, this year.

The ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PTV and Radio for telecasting and airing a number of Hajj awareness programmes. A variety of material has been developed and is under printing for dissemination, he said.

He said the ministry is making all possible efforts to provide best available facilities to the intending pilgrims. Booklets have also been printed for the proper orientation of Manasik-e-Hajj .

For the first time in the country's history, all 86,000 Hajj applicants have been declared eligible for performing the religious obligation of Hajj.

All the applicants, who submitted applications in various banks by May 29 have been declared eligible to perform Hajj in 2011, as the government has withdrawn its 15 percent quota with the resolve to facilitate the intending pilgrims.

The process of submitting applications started on May 15 and within ten days about 76,000 people had submitted their applications in various banks, while the total number of intending pilgrims reached 86,000 on May 29.

The banks have submitted 78,000 passports to the ministry as it has been decided to dispatch 7,000 passports daily to the Saudi Embassy for stamping of visas.

This year around 9,000 pilgrims will be accommodated only in one building in the Holy city of Makkah. The pilgrims belonging to same districts will be accommodated in one flight, one building and one Maktub.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011