PESHAWAR, April 20: Participants of a conference have called for a new Haj policy for this year, a press release said here on Tuesday. The NWFP Haj conference, held at the Haj Complex in Hayatabad , reviewed proposals received by the ministry, concerning the formulation of the Haj Policy for 2005.

The conference, chaired by the joint secretary of the Ministry of Haj and Religious Affairs, was attended by master trainers, group leaders and tour operators, who put forward their suggestions in this regard.

Participants of the conference called for inviting applications from June 1 besides recommending that the Saudi government should be requested an additional 25,000 over and above the sanctioned number of 140,000 Hajis.

They said that forms should be made available on payment of dues. The government, they said, should cater for 110,000 pilgrims, while the remainder of 30,000 pilgrims should be looked after by the private sector. The conference said that no special quota should be abolished.

Other recommendations included Nadra's computerised identity cards should be made compulsory and children below the age of 18 years, except infants, should not be allowed to accompany except infants. It also called for reserving a quota of 5,000 for people who have already performed Haj. It also recommended that Haj fare should not be increased.