ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: There will be no increase in Haj fares during the upcoming Haj season, the joint secretary and spokesman for the religious affairs ministry said on Tuesday.

Mohammad Ilyas Dar told PTV that PIA and Saudi Arabian Airlines would be responsible for transporting the pilgrims on the payment of last year’s fares.

However, a slight increase in Haj expenses had been made due to the enhancement of space per person from 3 square feet to 3.5 square feet by the Saudi government, he said. The space sufficient for 100 pilgrims would now be occupied by 85, he added.

Computerized national identity cards would be essential for the intending Hajis, said Mr Dar.

Answering a question, he said monitoring teams had been made more effective this year to check malpractices in Haj arrangements.

He advised the intending pilgrims to get a package in writing from private Haj operators to enable the authorities to take action against them if they failed to fulfil their commitments.

Last year there were 251 registered Haj operators. Licenses of 22 operators were cancelled due to various complaints, he said.

According to him, 150,000 pilgrims will perform Haj in 2006, including 90,000 through the government and 60,000 through private schemes.

Those who have already performed Haj will not be eligible for another five years. This is applicable on both government and private schemes.

Those who continuously failed during the last two ballots will automatically qualify in 2006. Banks have been directed to separately receive their applications. Their grouping will be made by the religious affairs ministry. —-APP