Govt announces result of Hajj applications

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday selected 68,800 intending pilgrims to be sent for Hajj.

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday selected 68,800 intending pilgrims out of total 86,000 applicants through the computerized balloting to be sent to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj.

The Ministry has placed the results of the draw on its official website www.hajjinfo.org, while the intending pilgrims can also check their names through mobile phone by simply writing HS(Space)First six digits of application form number and sending it to 2121.

Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi performed the draw as per the schedule announced in the Hajj policy for the year 2010.

Addressing a press conference on the occasion, Kazmi said that the successful candidates would have to submit their original International Machine Readable Passports with their respective bank branches within four days of the date of balloting.

This year, 79,647 Hujjaj would perform the religious obligation under the regular scheme. The applicants who remained unsuccessful in the ballot during last two years consecutively have been selected without draw, he added.

Besides, the intending pilgrims for Hajj-2009 who could not proceed due to negligence of some Hajj Group Organizers have also been selected without draw this year.

The Minister said one-month pre Hajj flight operation would start from October 10. Kazmi said, each pilgrim would be allowed free baggage up to 32kg and hand carry not exceeding 7Kg.

Excess baggage, if any, would be charged from passenger at the rate of 15 Saudi Riyals per Kg. Each Haji would be allowed a 10-litre Aabe-Zam-Zam bottle on their return, he added.

The minister said the intending pilgrims who are unable to proceed on the holy journey due to floods, must inform the ministry and their deposited amounts would be paid back at the earliest. He said a waiting list of Hujjaj has also been arranged to accommodate them, if some successful candidates belonging to flood affected areas of the country withdraw from the Hajj.