F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The designated branches of scheduled banks would start receiving G-overnment Scheme Hajj applications from January 15, Mi-nister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Yousaf said Wednesday.
Announcing Hajj Policy 2018, he told media that the Hajj applications would be received till January 24 and balloting to choose 120,000 successful pilgrims would be held on January 26. As many as 59,210 would perform the Hajj through Private Hajj Scheme. He said Rs 280,000 would be paid by the intending pilgrims of North region while Rs 270,000 would be received from the intending pilgrims going to perform Hajj from South Region. Hajj dues have not been increased this year to enable the intending pilgrims to perform the sacred religious duty with immunity. Intending pilgrims would have to deposit Rs 13,050 additional for sacrifice. The government Hajj sch-eme quota ratio has been enh-anced further to on public de-mand.
A total of 179,210 Pakistanis would perform sacred religious obligation this year, 67 percent will perform Hajj from government scheme and 33 percent under private scheme. Stakeholders would be consulted to reduce Hajj itinerary from 38 days to 30 days. A quota of 10,000 has been allocated for the applicants of over 80 years of age for hajj 2018. If the number of applicants exceeds 10,000 mark the successful would be selected through balloting, he said adding that the applicants who remained unsuccessful in last consecutive three years would be selected through normal balloting. A total of 10,000 of such persons would be selected through a separate balloting.
Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) would be enrolled afresh.
