Ministry extends date for submission of passport by pilgrims in banks

The date for passport submission by Hajj pilgrims in respective financial institution branches has been prolonged until April 28 by the Ministry of Non secular Affairs and Interfaith Concord, Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.

Pilgrims have additionally been suggested by the ministry to make use of Saudi Visa Bio’, a smartphone utility for biometric verification from the consolation of their dwelling.

In line with the ministry, Hajis can go to the closest Gerry’s Visa Centre between 2pm to 6pm in the event that they face any issue.

Final month, Mufti Abdul Shakoor — the late minister for spiritual affairs — stated that 179,210 Pakistani pilgrims would carry out Hajj this 12 months.

The estimated Hajj value for the northern area — which incorporates Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sialkot — is Rs1,175,000 whereas for the southern area, it’s Rs1,165,000.

Hajj 2023 fares

The Pakistan Worldwide Airways (PIA) had already introduced that its pre-Hajj operation would begin on Might 21 and proceed until August 12 throughout which the nationwide flag provider would carry 38,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

“Pre Hajj operation will start from 1st Zilqad until 4th Zilhajj, 1444 similar to Gregorian date twenty first Might until twenty second June 2023 (topic to moon sighting),” in response to PIA Hajj round.

The nationwide flag provider has determined to cost fares in US {dollars} for the second 12 months in a row and stuck the fares for pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia underneath the non-public Hajj scheme from $870 to $1180 for the Southern area that features Karachi, Quetta, Sukkur, Hyderabad.

This resolution got here after the Ministry of Non secular Affairs and Interfaith Concord final month determined to allocate a 50% particular quota within the Authorities Hajj Scheme-2023 for the pilgrims who pays in US {dollars}.

Then again, the airfares for the pilgrims from the northern area have been within the vary of $910 to $1,220. The northern sector consists of Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and different cities.

The price of a whole authorities Hajj scheme-based pilgrimage could be Rs1.25 million.

Amenities for pilgrims

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had vowed that the federal government would supply all doable services to the pilgrims meaning to carry out Hajj this 12 months.

The monetary czar made the remarks whereas chairing a gathering to overview progress on Hajj Scheme 2023 in Islamabad within the first week of the present month.

“Hajj is a sacred spiritual obligation and the federal government will facilitate the Hujjaj in each doable method,” he had stated.

The secretary of the spiritual affairs ministry had knowledgeable the assembly that receipt of purposes for the Hajj-2023 was closed on the thirty first of final month as per the federal government’s Hajj coverage.

It was additionally knowledgeable that 72,869 purposes had been acquired within the banks towards the quota of 44,190 of the federal government’s common scheme.