ISLAMABAD: About 180,000 pilgrims will perform Haj this year under the new Haj policy approved by the federal cabinet on Wednesday. Half of them, to be selected on a first-come-first-served basis, will be facilitated under the government scheme and the remaining through 96 registered group organisers.

The cabinet meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. About 160,000 people had performed Haj last year.

The new policy envisages a special quota of 13,500 applicants for those funded by charitable organisations, low-income groups, latecomers and low-paid employees of various organisations.

Despite the alleged corruption in last year’s Haj operations, the new policy provides little or no safeguards against irregularities except for broadening the exercise of acquiring residential accommodations in Makkah and Madina and abandoning the practice of sponsoring Haj on official expense for political workers and media personnel.

Under the government scheme, there will be two categories of accommodation -- Green and White. The overall Haj expenses have been reduced by Rs7,000 to Rs200,000 ( for Green category) and Rs212,000 (for White category). But each pilgrim will have to spend Rs19,000 on purchasing 900 Saudi riyals for travelling expenses.

The total expenses last year were Rs228,000 and Rs238,000 for south and north zones respectively, inclusive of foreign currency.

Briefing journalists after the cabinet meeting, Religious Affairs Minister Khurshid Ahmad Shah and Information Minster Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan said that 5,000 bank branches across the country would receive Haj applications from April 15 to May 10.

“The ministry and I will monitor the receipt of applications to ensure transparency because there will be no balloting this year,” Mr Shah said.

People who had performed Haj during the last five years will not be eligible for this year’s Haj except for Mehram, group leader or those undertaking Haj-i-Badal.

A pilgrim protection scheme has been launched under which each pilgrim will be required to contribute a non-refundable amount of Rs400. A compensation of Rs200,000 will be paid in case of death during Haj, Rs50,000 for the loss of a limb in accident, Rs100,000 for loss of two limbs and Rs50,000 for emergency evacuation because of illness.

Machine readable passport will be mandatory and only PIA and Saudi Airlines will lift the pilgrims from airports and bring them home.

Mr Shah said the applicants who had been unsuccessful in Haj ballot last year under the government scheme would be declared successful if they had not withdrawn their deposited amounts.

The religious affairs minister said that so far accommodation for 27,000 pilgrims had been acquired by a five-member hiring committee. Arrangements for 50,000 pilgrims would be made by the end of this month.

Group organisers will offer only two packages -- economy and executive -- and a comprehensive awareness campaign and training for the intending pilgrims will be launched.

APP adds: Mr Shah said the new Haj policy would be applicable for three years. He said the policy had been finalised in consultation with the Saudi government. Pakistan’s Haj quota this year has been raised from 158,000 to 179,254.

The minister said the PIA would charge Rs72,000 for flights from the south zone and Rs84,000 from the north zone.

The pilgrims falling under the Green category will get accommodation at a distance of 2,000 metres from Haram at a rate of 4,000 Saudi riyals. The pilgrims of White category will get the facility beyond 2,000 metres distance from Haram with a rental ceiling of 36,00 riyals per pilgrim.

Pilgrims performing Haj under the government scheme will not be required to pay any amount on account of personal exchange quota, which will be arranged by them from the open market through banks or foreign exchange companies.

About welfare services, the minister said that staff of the Medical Haj Mission would be increased from 260 to 540. About 230 Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj will be drawn from the armed forces, civil armed forces and Pakistan Boy Scouts. Around 900 Pakistani students studying in Saudi Arabia will be hired at 100 riyals per day.