Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on other day said the designated branches of scheduled banks would start receiving applications under the Government Hajj Scheme on Monday (today). Announcing the Hajj Policy 2016 at a press conference here, the minister said the applications would be received till April 26.
Balloting for successful intending pilgrims would be held on April 29, who would be intimated through a letter, he added. He said the Hajj package for pilgrims from Karachi, Quetta and Sukkur (South Region) would be Rs 261,941 and from Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad and Sialkot (North Region) Rs 270,941. The air fare for North Region, he said, had been reduced to Rs 95,000 from Rs 98,700 and for South Region to Rs 86,000 from Rs 89,700. All the airlines would be asked to adhere to the fare fixation.
The minister said the applications could be deposited in online branches of eight designated banks.
He said 20 per cent cut in Pakistan's quota would continue this year also. Total 143,268 pilgrims would perform the sacred obligation, 60 per cent (86,021) under the Government Hajj Scheme and 40 per cent (57,247) through Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs). He said there would be no free Hajj this year.
Sardar Yousaf said the intending pilgrims must have Machine Readable Passports, Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and medical certificates.
All pilgrims, both male and female, would have to affix a Pakistani flag with their `Ahrams' or Abayahs for identification. Female pilgrims would have to carry at least two `Abayas', preferably of black colour, he said. The minister said this year 50 per cent pilgrims under the Government Scheme would be airlifted directly to Madinah Munawwarrah from Pakistan and vice versa as it would reduce travelling time and cost. He said the monitoring and supervision mechanism for the Hajj Operation 2016 had been strengthened. A Parliamentary Hajj Advisory Committee under his chairmanship had been constituted to advise the work plan, policy, planning and management of the operation in Pakistan as well as in Saudi Arabia and suggest measures for improving the welfare services for Hujjaj. Besides, the Advisory Committee would also oversee the building hiring process, he said.
Sardar Yousaf said any person, who had performed Hajj during the last five years, would not be eligible to perform Hajj 2016 except Mehram or the one undertaking Haj-e-Badal. A female pilgrim, he said, would have to accompany a Mehram as required by Saudi authorities. However, a woman pilgrim above the age of 45, would be exempted from this condition. He said five per cent of total seats under the Government Scheme had been reserved for hardship cases. These included the pilgrims recommended and funded by charitable institutions, labour /low paid employees of different public sector organisations/ corporate entities under the concept of corporate social responsibility, etc. Food would be provided to the pilgrims of Government Hajj Scheme during their stay in Makkah Mukarrammah, Madina Munawwarrah and Mashahir (Mina) within the package, he added.
He said all Hujjaj would be provided five litre Zam Zam in a specially packed bottle upon their return to Pakistan at the respective destinations. A comprehensive awareness campaign, he said, would be launched on national media. Hajj Mohafiz Scheme based on concept of `Takaful' would be continued in Hajj 2016, he added.
The minister said that three Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) had been blacklisted on receiving complaints while security deposit of one had been forfeited. The licence of one HGO had been suspended for one year.
The fine of Rs 7.5 million, he said, was imposed on four HGOs for violating the agreement. The minister said all HGOs were required to enhance their paid-up and authorised capital up to Rs 7.5 million and Rs 10 million respectively.
Sardar Yousaf said more facilities would be provided to Hujjaj this year, including fruits, juices and sandwiches. Hujjaj would be provided air cooler facility in Arfah. The Hujjaj would be provided residential facilities within 500 meters from Haram Sharif in Madina, he said.