In order to facilitate citizens, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced that designated banks will remain open on Saturday and Sunday, November 30 and December 1, to receive applications for Hajj 2025 across the country.
According to an SBP circular issued today, branches of designated banks will remain operational from 9 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday to facilitate collection of Haj applications along with fees from intended pilgrims for Hajj 2025.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has designated 15 banks to collect Hajj applications and fees from pilgrims for Hajj 2025 from November 18, 2024 to December 3, 2024, across the country.
About 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Haj under the government scheme next year at a cost of between Rs 1,075,000 and Rs 1,175,000.
Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain said 179,210 Pakistanis will perform the Hajj, while citizens under the age of 12 will not be allowed to travel for the holy pilgrimage.
Detailing the expected expenditure of a pilgrim to visit the holiest places in Saudi Arabia, the minister announced that it would range between Rs 1,075,000 and Rs 1,175,000.
A pilgrim will have to submit Rs 200,000 along with the Hajj application and deposit Rs 400,000 after being selected through voting, while the remaining payments will be made by February 10, 2025.
In case of cancellation, the first installment will be refunded after deducting Rs.50,000 and Rs.200,000 will be deducted in case of non-payment of third installment and no refund will be made after 10th February 2025. .
As per the policy, the compensation for the heirs of the deceased has been increased from Rs 1 million to Rs 2 million, the minister said.
Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the members of the federal cabinet had given the go-ahead for the Haj Policy 2025 last week.
According to the policy, 1,000 seats will be reserved for hardship cases and 300 for laborers and low-income workers enrolled in the Old-age Employees’ Benefit Institution (EOBI) or Employees’ Provident Fund.
Road to Makkah will be available at Islamabad and Karachi International Airports.
The organizers of the Hajj group would sign a service agreement with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which would be strictly monitored.
It was said that a new portfolio of Nazim (administrator) had been introduced for the convenience of pilgrims. A Nazim will be appointed for each group of 100 pilgrims, who will be selected by the welfare staff.
The cabinet members were informed that a special Hajj management application has been developed for the convenience of pilgrims and arrangements have been made for their training.
a href=”https://www.geo.tv/latest/576769-banks-to-remain-open-this-weekend-to-receive-hajj-2025-applications”>Source link
