ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has directed the intending pilgrims to visit Etimad offices for biometric verification of fingerprints as per their scheduled time and date with original bank receipts, copies of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) and passports before leaving for Saudi Arabia for Hajj 1439 AH.
According to the ministry’s press release, the process of biometric verification of intending pilgrims was continuing at 28 centres of Etimad including Dera Ismail Khan, Sukkar, Swat, Multan, Jhang, Swabi, Mardan, Hyderabad, Gujrat, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Mansehra, Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Khushab, Gilgit, Mirpur, Rajanpur, Gujranwala, Mirpur Khas, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi.
The intending pilgrims below 6 years of age and over 80 years of age were exempted from biometric verification.
The ministry has already issued the schedule for carrying biometric verification of intending pilgrims. The information about the schedule could be obtained from website www.hajjinfo.org or ministry’s helplines (042) 111725425; (051) 9205696, (051) 9216980-82 and through Haji camps.
The use of biometric system for private Haj pilgrims intending to go to perform Haj through private scheme has been made mandatory.
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has already informed intending pilgrims through phone calls and SMS to ensure biometric verification, before submitting their passports for the issuance of visa.
