ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The last date for receipt of applications for Haj 2003 under the sponsorship scheme is August 22, official sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Friday.

The last date for applying under the regular scheme was August 15.

The banks, however, will continue to receive applications for haj under the open scheme till September 21.

Applications can be submitted with a late fee of Rs5,000 up to September 21 and December 31 under the sponsorship scheme and the open haj scheme respectively.

This year, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has also allowed the Bank of Punjab, the Bank of Khyber and the Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank to receive haj applications in addition to the banks which have been doing so for the last several years, namely Habib Bank, Muslim Commercial Bank, Allied Bank, United Bank and National bank.

The authorised banks have set up special counters and deputed trained staffers for completing haj application forms and facilitating the intending pilgrims in formation of groups.

The Ministry has imparted necessary training to the bank officials to guide the intending pilgrims in completion of haj forms to avoid any error that could lead to rejection of any application.

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

Under the Haj Policy, an estimated 140,000 intending pilgrims are expected to perform haj under the sponsorship, regular and open schemes this year.

As many as 50,000 pilgrims will perform haj this year under the regular scheme, 60,000 under the sponsorship scheme and 15,000 under the open haj scheme.

The rest of pilgrims will be Pakistani expatriates.