Banks to receive Haj applications from Wednesday

The designated Banks would start receiving Hajj applications from Wednesday (May 2) from the intending pilgrims on the first come first serve basis. According to an official, the applications would be received till May 11. The main reason behind increased hajj expenditure is the hike in petroleum prices, appreciation in value of Saudi Riyal (SR) and increased rent of buildings as comparing to previous year, he said.
A total of 179,210 lucky Pakistanis will perform hajj during the current year. Half of them would perform Hajj under the Government scheme while the rest under the private scheme. The Government scheme intending pilgrims have been divided into Green, Blue and White categories. The intending pilgrims would be provided residential facilities within 900 meters of Haram Sharif. They would be placed in the Blue category. The Green category pilgrims would be provided residence facilities from 900 to 2000 meters (from Haram Sharif). White category pilgrims would be provided residences from over 2000 meters from Haram Sharif.
The white category pilgrims belonging to South Zone Karachi, Quetta will have to pay Rs 221000.The same area people of Green category will have to pay Rs 256000 and of Blue category the amount is Rs 319000. The pilgrims of North zone Islamabad, Pesawar, Lahore will have to pay Rs 233000 for white category, Rs 268000 for green category and Rs 331000 for blue category. The federal cabinet has already approved the hajj policy for three years.
The Hujjaj will be airlifted by four air carriers PIA, Shaheen Air International, Saudi Airline and NasAir. Airfare for Hajj-2012 as finalised with PIA will be Rs 73000/- for south region and Rs. 85000/- for north region, he said.
Any person who has performed Hajj during the last five years will not be eligible to perform Hajj in 2012 except Mehram, Group Leader or the one undertaking Hajj-e-Badal.
He said five percent of the total seats under government scheme will be reserved for hardship cases, applicants belonging to far-flung and rural areas of Gilgit Baltistan, Balochistan and remote and rural areas of Sindh and Punjab and pilgrims recommended and funded by charitable institutions, Labour and low paid Employees of different public sector organizations and corporate entities under the concept of corporate social responsibility, etc.
For the Welfare services during Hajj-2012, Hajj Medical Mission comprising 540 personnel, 230 Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj and 900 Local Khuddam-ul- Hujjaj in KSA, with variation of 10 percent, will be deputed and in case of shortage, it would be met through Volunteers Khaddam-ul-Hajjaj Scheme.­