ISLAMABAD – Federal government to announce Hajj Policy 2019 in second weekof January 2019, said official sources in Ministry of Religious Affairs andInterfaith Harmony here on Wednesday.
According to sources, the draft of Hajj Policy 2019 was being finalizedafter consultations with all stakeholders and organizing consultativeworkshops at several cities. The applications for securing berth inGovernment Hajj Scheme would be invited from the general public by lastweek of January, 2019.
The ministry was contemplating to retain the quota for government andprivate Hajj operators by 60:40 respectively, he said adding that theministry has proposed open sky policy for airlines to transport Hujjaj toSaudi Arabia.
The ministry, he said may allot quota to new Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs).
He said 184,210 Pakistanis would perform Hajj next year following theincrease of country’s Hajj quota by 5,000 pilgrims as comparing to thisyear’s pilgrimage. Saudi government has already been asked to furtherenhance Hajj quota of Pakistan.
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The Hajj dues of the applicants would be kept in Sharia Complaintremunerative accounts. Pakistanis will be given E-visas.
He said the ministry has imposed strict conditions on scheduled banks,receiving Hajj applications of Government Hajj Scheme during Hajj 2019.
The banks should have different counters at each designated branch, besidesdeploying special staff for guiding the intending pilgrims in submittingHajj applications to the Ministry. – APP
