Ministry’s advice to intending pilgrims

Islamabad: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has asked the intending Haj pilgrims to hire the services of only registered Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) for performing the sacred religious ceremony under private hajj scheme.
An official of the ministry told APP that the unregistered Haj Organisers and sub agents are not authorised to collect the applications under private Haj scheme. The ministry has already launched action against such persons.
He said before finalizing any deal with the HGO, an intending pilgrim must confirm the permission letter, enrolment number, package offered including air fare, distance of residence from Haram Sharif, Maktab number of Mina Tent Village and transport facility being offered to Hujjaj.
An intending pilgrim must also write his blood group with the application.
The HGOs must be paid through cheque or bank draft. The applicant must know about his stay duration in Saudi Arabia as air fare varies for 40 days and less than 40 days stay in the holy land.