ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The last date, Aug 15, to apply for Haj in 2003 under the regular scheme would not be extended, officials at the Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Monday.

Therefore, the intending pilgrims had been asked to submit their applications before the expiry of last date in the designated branches of banks, they said.

It had been observed that most of the intending pilgrims tried to submit applications when the last date came closer, which created problems both for them and the banks, the sources added.

The banks, however, will continue to receive applications for Haj under the sponsorship scheme till Aug 22 and under the open Haj plan by Sept 21.

Applications can be submitted with Rs5,000 late fee by Sept 21, and Dec 31, under the sponsorship scheme and the open Haj scheme respectively.

This year, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr has also allowed the Bank of Punjab, Bank of Khyber and the Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank to receive Haj applications.

Previously only five banks - Habib Bank, Muslim Commercial Bank, Allied Bank, United Bank and National Bank - were authorized to receive the applications.

All the designated branches of the banks have made elaborate arrangements in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for providing facility to the intending pilgrims.

The ministry has imparted training to the bank officials to help guide the intending pilgrims for the correct completion the application forms to avoid rejection of the documents.

All the banks concerned have been provided the application forms for the regular and sponsorship schemes whereas open Haj scheme forms can be obtained from Haji Camp Islamabad.

DELEGATION: A team of the Ministry of Religious Affairs left here on Monday for Saudi Arabia to review arrangements for the forthcoming Haj.