Hajj policy 2010 announced

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi on Thursday announced the Hajj policy for the year 2010 under which around 160,000 intending pilgrims would perform the religious obligation in Saudi Arabia under government and private schemes.

The minister announced the policy at a news conference at the Press Information Department. Minister of State for Religious Affairs Shagufta Jumani was also present on the occasion.

Kazmi said an overall 19 per cent increase has been made in the Hajj package due to inflation and this year each aspirant would have to pay Rs226,000 to get a flight from Karachi and Quetta, while those from other stations will pay Rs238,000.

He said after deduction of compulsory hajj dues, accommodation charges and special service charges payable to Saudi agencies, the balance amount (around 900 Riyals) in foreign exchange would be provided to each intending pilgrim before their departure from Pakistan to meet day to day expenses in Saudi Arabia.

He said the ministry would start receiving Hajj applications under the government scheme from June 10, while the last date for submission of the applications would be June 25.

The applications will be received through designated bank branches of Allied Bank Limited, Habib Bank Limited, Muslim Commercial Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, United Bank Limited and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited. He said the balloting would be held after the closing date at the earliest.

Kazmi said this year there would be no special quota and the pilgrims would be selected 100 per cent through ballot under the government scheme. "No Hajj application will be entertained for repeat Hajj, if the applicant has performed Hajj during the last five years except in three cases i.e. Mahram of a lady who did not perform Hajj earlier, group leader and Hajj-e-Badal," the minister said.

Kazmi informed that successful candidates would have to submit their original International Machine Readable Passports with their respective bank branches within four days after the balloting.

Computerised national identity cards or national identity cards for overseas Pakistanis would be mandatory for the Hajj 2010, he added. He clarified that the Saudi government would only stamp the passports having validity of at least one year at the time of filing applications. He said besides the regular allocation, the ministry has already requested the Saudi government for additional Quota of 10,353 Hajjis.

Kazmi said the applicants who have been unsuccessful in the ballot during the last two years consecutively under the government scheme would be declared successful without ballot. Besides, the intending pilgrims for Hajj 2009 who could not proceed due to negligence of some Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) would be declared successful without ballot, he added.

Responding to a question with regard to Hajjis’ accommodation, the minister said the maximum rent in Makkah would be Saudi Riyal 3600 per pilgrim, while the determination of rent would be based on quality of building and distance from Haram Sharif. Residence in Madina would be provided at the cost of SR 500 per pilgrim, he added.

Kazmi said applications for enrollment of HGOs for Hajj 2010 would be received from June 7 to 17, while scrutiny of application forms would be held between June 18 to 30.