ISLAMABAD, July 11: Haj applications from intending pilgrims have been invited by the ministry of religious affairs through selected branches of eight banks in the country from July 15.

Three new banks, Bank of Punjab, Bank of Khyber and Punjab Cooperative Bank, have been added this time to the list of national commercial banks (NBP, HBL, UBL, MCB and ABL) which receive Haj applications.

The next Haj falls on Feb 11, 2003.

According to the Haj Policy, approved by the federal cabinet on July 3, a total of 50,000 pilgrims will perform Haj under regular scheme and submit their applications till Aug 15.

Sixty thousand people would be allowed under sponsorship scheme and Aug 22 has been set as the last date for submission of applications, with a grace period up to Sept 21 during which a late fee of Rs5,000 will be charged.

Around 15,000 applications are to be accepted under Open Haj Scheme. The last date for submission of applications is Sept 21. Late fee will have to be paid if these were submitted between Sept 23 and Dec 31.

The Pakistanis performing Haj this year could touch the figure of 140,000 as an estimated 15,000 would be coming to the holy land from other countries of their stay.

While the PIA fare has been fixed at last year’s level, the charges of stay at Madina for every pilgrim has been enhanced to S.R.250 from 200 S.R. of last year.

The ministry of religious affairs has already ordered obtaining of suitable accommodations through a committee headed by ambassador of Pakistan in Riyadh.

The Haj policy provides that the responsibility of providing accommodation to the Haj pilgrims under regular Haj scheme would be undertaken by the ministry of religious affairs while intending pilgrims of all the remaining categories would be required to pre-arrange their accommodation and submit certificates before getting permission to embark on Haj journey.

The pilgrims who want to stay with their blood relations in Saudi Arabia will have to submit documents duly certified by the Saudi authorities.

Similarly, the pilgrims under Open Haj Scheme are also required to pre-arrange certified/verified accommodation on their own.

Since the Haj pilgrims under sponsorship will arrange their accommodation on their own, the ministry will not receive Rs25,000 against charges of stay at Makkah.

However, service charges per Haji have been increased to Rs500 per head from Rs400 applicable to them since 1992.

Personal exchange quota has been kept at US$ 1200 per pilgrim for those who opt for government-arranged accommodation and US$ 800 per pilgrim who pre-arrange their own accommodation.