ISLAMABAD:Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Thursdayurged the private tour operators and individuals to refrain from collectingmoney from the intending pilgrims in advance.
In an exclusive talk with APP, the ministry’s spokesperson Muhammad UmarButt informed that the ministry had not permitted any tour operator toreceive money or applications for Hajj-2022 so far.
He said there were certain private tour operators and individuals allegedlyinvolved in collecting money in the wake of Hajj applications orregistration which was totally an illegal act and a punishable offence.
The ministry had urged the people not to hand over his/ her passport andmoney to any individual or operator, unless a list of private touroperators with Hajj quota was posted on the ministry’s websitewww.hajjinfo.org and authorization of them to receive Hajj applications, headded.
Umar Butt said if they found involved any individual or operator in thisillegitimate practice, they should immediately intimate the ministry on itsgiven phone numbers, 051-9205696, 051-9216980-82, so that a necessarydisciplinary action may be taken against them in accordance with the law.
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He made it clear that those who did not follow the ministry’s instructions,they would be responsible for their own loss. He also clarified that theministry had allowed designated branches of the schedule banks to collectthe Hajj applications with token money of Rs 50, 000.
He said the applications could be submitted via online and banks from May1, to May 13 while the token money could be deposited from May 9, to May13. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has allotted a quota of81,132 pilgrims this year.
It would be divided between the government and private schemes with theratio of 60:40.
