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

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.