Hajj applications to be received from today

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Religious Affairs will receive applications from April 15 to May 10. 179,254 Hajj pilgrims would perform religious obligation this year. The Federal Cabinet approved the Hajj policy for the year-2001 on Wednesday. 5,000 designated bank branches would receive the applications and media would be kept informed on daily basis about the number of applicants. Minister of Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah said. "Out of the total allocation, 50 per cent will be allocated to the government Hajj scheme and 50 percent to private scheme," he said. This year, the minister said, there would be no balloting for Hajj as the applicants would be selected on "first-come and first-served" basis to ensure transparency in the entire process. "A person, who has performed Hajj during the last five years, will not be eligible this year except Mehram, group leader or undertaking Hajj-e-Badal," Khursheed Shah maintained. He said the Ministry was launching a pilgrim protection scheme under which each Haji would be required to contribute Rs. 400 non-refundable premium. " a sum of Rs 200,000 will be paid from the fund in case of death during the pilgrimage, Rs 50,000 for the loss of a limb in an accident, Rs 100,000 for loss of two limbs and Rs 50,000 for emergency evacuation due to illness," the minister said.

Posted in: Pakistan News