No balloting for Haj this year

ISLAMABAD – The federal cabinet approved the Haj Policy, 2011 in a meeting at Prime Minister (PM)’s Secretariat on Wednesday chaired by PM Yousaf Raza Gilani, who told the Religious Affairs Ministry to take all stakeholders on board and launch an extensive awareness campaign to make the system transparent and help pilgrims understand the Haj arrangements properly.
The cabinet was told that Saudi Arabia had increased the quota of Pakistani pilgrims for 2011 by 19,609, bringing the total number of pilgrims from Pakistan to 179,256, as opposed to 159,547 in 2010. Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Shah told a press briefing after the cabinet meeting that there would be no balloting this year and pilgrims would be entertained on a first come, first serve basis.
He said that the cabinet was told that according to the new policy, people who had performed Haj in the last five years were not eligible this year, except mehram men accompanying women, group leaders or those undertaking a Haj-e-Badal (Haj in place of someone else). He said only Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Saudi Arabian Airlines were allowed to operate Haj flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia and back, and there would two schemes, i.e. the government Haj scheme, and through Haj Group Organisers (HGOs).
Half of the quota would be allocated to the government Haj scheme and half to private schemes. Under the new policy, unsuccessful applicants for Haj 2010 will be considered approved for Haj 2011 if they have not withdrawn Haj dues, subject to the condition that they have not applied afresh for Haj 2011. PIA has agreed to the airfare of Rs 72,000 for the south zone and Rs 84,000 for the north zone.
Hajj dues of “White” category will be Rs 200,847 for the south zone and Rs 212,847 for the north zone. Haj dues for “Green” category will be Rs 210,047 for the south zone and Rs 222,047 for the north zone. A broad-based Accommodation Hiring Committee comprising five members will arrange for accommodation in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. A Hujjaj Mohafiz Scheme based on the concept of takaful will be launched with non-refundable contributions of Rs 400 by each pilgrim for compensation in case of death/accident during Haj.
In case of death during the pilgrimage, Rs 200,000 will be paid out, Rs 50,000 for the loss of a limb in an accident, Rs 100,000 for the loss of two limbs and Rs 50,000 for emergency evacuation because of illness.
Banks will receive Haj applications from April 15 to May 10, 2011.