Pakistan’s religion ministry orders banks to refund all Hajj applicants by July 28

In this file photo Pakistani pilgrims wait in queue to clear security as part of the first group to arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Hajj on July 24, 2017. (AFP/File)

• A total of 180,000 Pakistanis were scheduled to perform the Hajj this year
• Saudi authorities announced this year’s Hajj will be limited to 10,000 people residing inside the Kingdom

ISLAMABAD: A spokesman for Pakistan’s religion ministry said on Thursday it had reissued instructions that all pending dues be reimbursed to Hajj applicants, saying they should withdraw their dues from banks “as soon as possible.”
Last month, the Pakistan government said it would refund all those who had paid dues to perform the Hajj pilgrimage under a government scheme, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to limit the annual pilgrimage this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
A total of 180,000 Pakistanis were scheduled to perform the Hajj this year, over 107,500 under a government program.
“All nominated banks have been instructed to complete the refund process by July 28,” a spokesman for the religious affairs ministry said in a statement.
He said the ministry had not issued any instructions that the dues be kept in banks or new bank accounts be opened.
“All nominated banks are obliged to pay all dues without deduction,” the statement said. “The ministry is in constant touch with the banks for easy refund of money to all Hajj applicants. In case of any difficulty or concern, users should contact the Religious Affairs complaints number.”