JEDDAH, 21 July — The Pakistan Haj Directorate is fully geared to ensure that over 120,000 pilgrims expected this year, get all possible comfort and services to perform their Haj smoothly.

Applications have already started pouring in since Aug. 8 in the regular scheme, under the new Haj policy, which was announced by the government on Aug. 1. Last date for the receipt of applications under the regular scheme is Aug. 28, and for the sponsorship scheme is Sept. 8.

The applications can be submitted till Sept. 30 under the sponsorship scheme, but with a late fee of 5,000 rupees and with double late fee of 10,000 rupees till Nov. 30, said Haj Director Muhammad Yousuf.

From this year, the government is also introducing open Haj scheme and applications under this scheme will be received from Nov. 1 to Nov. 14 and with late fee till Nov. 30, he added.

The Haj director said that “we are expecting 45,000 pilgrims under the regular scheme and 75,000 under the sponsorship scheme.”

This year, the Haj will cost 105,612 rupees per person from Karachi. This includes 24,150 rupees for air ticket (from Karachi), 362 rupees for C.V.T., service charges 400 rupees, Haj fee 100 rupees, personal exchange quota 80,400 rupees (approximately $1,200) and terminal tax 200 rupees.

Pilgrims coming from other stations will have to pay 109,902 rupees per person. This includes 28,376 rupees for air ticket (from other stations), 426 rupees for C.V.T., 400 rupees for service charges, Haj fee 100 rupees, personal exchange quota 80,400 rupees (approximately $1,200) and terminal tax 200 rupees, Yousuf said.

He added that this year the points of embarkation for pilgrims are only five instead of seven last year. They are — Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. Sukkur and Faisalabad have been dropped as points of embarkation.

Pakistan’s flag-bearer Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will be lifting 85 percent of the pilgrims while 15 percent will be lifted by the Saudi Arabian Airlines. Negotiations are going on to switch 50 percent of the pilgrims to the Saudi carrier but it has not yet been finalized, Yousuf said.

Talks are also being held for lifting pilgrims from Madinah directly on their return journey, he added. “If the arrangements are finalized the duration of pilgrims’ stay in the Kingdom will be 35 days, otherwise they will stay for 40 days,” Yousuf said.

Speaking about the open Haj scheme, Yousuf said, “It is a voluntary facility and is designed to meet requirements of those who do not want to perform Haj under the government arrangements.”

However, they will have to make some arrangements of their own such as international passport, air ticket, confirmed accommodations in the holy cities; duly attested by the director Haj, Makkah, for which a fee of SR5 will be charged, necessary foreign exchange as per the regulations of State Bank of Pakistan, and 2,000 rupees per person to be paid to the Ministry of Religious Affairs as processing fee, which will be deposited in Pilgrim Welfare Fund, the director Haj said.

“On receipt of these papers the ministry will forward the applications to Saudi Embassy in Islamabad for endorsement of visas. Under this category applicants will be entertained on first-come first-serve basis against the overall quota of 75,000, he said.

Regarding accommodation, Yousuf said that “like last year this year too, we have ensured that the Saudi specifications of pilgrims accommodation are complied with. Every pilgrim will get three-square-meter living space in all three categories.”

The applicants of Category-I have to pay SR1,800, Category-II SR1,500 and Category-III SR1,000 for accommodation. Category-I applicants will be provided accommodation within 1,000 meters of the Holy Haram, and the buildings will be equipped with all modern facilities. “We have ensured that there should not be more than 10 person to use one bathroom, this category buildings will have kitchens with refrigerator and gas cylinder so that the pilgrims can cook their food themselves.”

Buildings in all the categories will have water coolers and a telephone. And maximum of 12 persons will use one bathroom, he said. The medical mission will consist of 950 people — 250 khudammul hujjaj, 250 medical and paramedical staff, up to 200 people will be hired locally by the Haj mission and up to 250 staff members will come from Pakistan. Other than these 25 bank personnel — five from each nationalized bank will be coming to assist the pilgrims.