ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Ministry of Religious Affairs has directed private Hajj operators to immediately activate Hajj packages under the allocated quota and has given a deadline of August 31.
The Ministry added that if the quota is not fulfilled within the stipulated period, the unfulfilled quota is likely to be confiscated and given to other companies.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a letter to Hajj organizing companies in this regard, directing them to activate different categories of Hajj packages according to the allocated quota.
According to media reports, 71,684 seats are allocated under the private Hajj scheme, but only 54 pilgrims could be booked in five days, after which the banking ratio remained at 0.1%.
Reports say that 99.9 percent of the private Hajj quota is still remaining, while due to limited time, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has directed the companies to take immediate steps to activate the packages.
According to the ministry, action can be taken against companies that do not activate Hajj packages within three days, while there is also a possibility of confiscating inactive quotas and transferring them to other Hajj companies.
Under the new policy, pilgrims will be able to choose private Hajj packages for the first time through the website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also made it mandatory to advertise packages on the website for the private Hajj scheme next year.
It should be noted that under the private Hajj scheme, Hajj expenses are being collected on 71,684 seats with a 40 percent quota this year.
