143,368 Pakistani pilgrims to perform Haj this year

Published April 24, 2015
Fifty per cent of the Hujjaj will perform Haj under government scheme, while the remaining 50 per cent will perform Haj under the private scheme. — AFP/File
Fifty per cent of the Hujjaj will perform Haj under government scheme, while the remaining 50 per cent will perform Haj under the private scheme. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and National Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf on Friday announced Haj Policy 2015 under which 143,368 pilgrims will perform the pilgrimage this year.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the applicants may submit their Haj applications from April 27 to May 8 in 10 designated banks, while the balloting of the applications would be held on May 14.

Yousaf added that 50 per cent of the Hujjaj will perform Haj under the government scheme, while the remaining 50 per cent will perform Haj under the private scheme.

He also said that the residents of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would pay Rs264,971 to perform Haj, whereas the residents of Sindh and Balochistan would pay Rs255,971.

“The pilgrims will submit Rs14,210 for sacrifice separately,” the minister said. “Anyone who performed Haj during the last five years will not be considered for 2015,” Yousaf added.

He also said that the pilgrims are required to carry machine readable passports, computerised national identity cards and a medical certificate during their visit of Saudi Arabia.

Yousaf also said that the government would provide food to the Hujjaj while a medical staff of 450 people would be sent to Saudi Arabia to provide medical treatment to any of the pilgrims needing looking after.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...