The government will incentivise citizens who would pay their dues for the upcoming Haj in US dollars, SAMAA TV reported.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also allocated a 25 per cent special quota for pilgrims who will deposit the amount in dollars, according to APP.

The move comes as the government scrambles to shore up fast-dwindling foreign reserves. The pilgrims who would pay the application fees and other charges in US dollars will get a special discount, SAMAA reported on Friday.

Quoting the draft of the Haj Policy 2023, the channel added that pilgrims will have the option to choose the currency they wish to pay in. Those paying in dollars would be exempted from balloting under the new Haj policy, APP reported.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2023