ISLAMABAD – Federal government makes important announcement over PakistaniHajj pilgrims.The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced a new datefor receiving applications for government scheme 2020, GNN reported.
The designated bank branches to start receiving the applications fromtomorrow (Jan 25) till March 6. People, according to the ministry, will beable to submit their application during weekly offs – Saturday and Sunday.
The banks were due to receive applications from January 24 (today) but theministry had barred them due to technical faults.
Earlier this month, the federal government had announced Haj Policy 2020,slightly increasing the Haj cost as compare to the previous year.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairms Pir Noorul Haq Qadri briefed themedia after the federal cabinet approved the policy.
The cost of performing the ritual under the government scheme has beenfixed at Rs490,060 for people in the north region as compare to last year’sexpense of Rs456,426. Now, every person will have to pay an additionRs33,634.
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The Haj cost for south region has been fixed at Rs480,000 as compare tolast year’s Rs446,426.
The minister said that an increase in air travel cost and devaluation ofrupee caused surge in the Haj cost.
In 2019, the cabinet had approved massive 63 per cent increase in the Hajjcost.
