Staff Reporter Islamabad
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MORA) has sought Expression of Interests (EoI) from scheduled Banks for collection of government scheme Hajj dues. The interested banks, having at least 250 branches across country with online facilities at Tehsil level, should submit application to the ministry by February 12, 2021. The successful bank would collect Hajj dues from the intending pilgrims in instalments and place the amounts in Shria compliant remunerative account, whereas Hajj dues of unsuccessful applicant to be placed in Sharia based PLS account.The Hajj applicants would only be eligible for balloting after depositing full Hajj dues.
Banks must establish counters at designated branches to collect Hajj applications online. They shall also establish Hajj booths at Haji Camps with Identification Boards and bear all expenses relating to its establishment and utilization of resources at each Haji Camp. These Hajj booths shall enter the details of differential amount paid to the intending pilgrims online on ministry’s website. The banks shall enter data of unsuccessful applicants online on the Ministry’s website on daily basis, to calculate the diminishing balance, otherwise banks shall not be considered in the next year operation.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony would receive government scheme Hajj dues from intending pilgrims in three easy installments. According to official source, the aspirants would have to deposit all Hajj dues before balloting of government Hajj scheme.
The road to Makkah project might be initiated from Karachi, Lahore and Quetta in Hajj 2021. Only government scheme pilgrims would be benefited from the project, he said. Ministry would ensure more and more facilities for the pilgrims going for the pilgrimage this year. ‘We will also arrange vaccine for the pilgrims,’ he said adding that the government would provide maximum facilities.
