The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has asked private tour operators and individuals to refrain from collecting money from the intending pilgrims in advance.
The ministry’s spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt said that the government has, so far, not permitted any tour operator to receive money or applications for this year’s Hajj.
He said that certain private tour operators and individuals were involved in collecting money in the wake of Hajj registration which was totally an illegal act and a punishable offence.
The spokesman urged the people not to hand over their passports and money to any individual or operator, unless a list of private tour operators with Hajj quota was posted on the ministry’s website along with their authorization to receive Hajj applications.
He said that if people found any individual or operator involved in this illegitimate practice, they should immediately intimate the ministry on its telephone numbers so that necessary disciplinary action may be taken against them.
