Applications for Hajj likely to be invited by mid-July

Islamabad. 8 July 07

Applications for Haj-2007 are likely to be invited by mid-July, [according to] Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Vakil Ahmed Khan. He told a parliamentary committee that only the travel fare for pilgrims has been increased.

Khan said a petition of his Ministry was lying pending with the Supreme Court regarding Hajj operators selection and its hearing would be held on the 10 July.

Khan said the Saudi government had increased Pakistan's Hajj quota from 150,000 to around 159,000 pilgrims, which would be distributed equally between regular and private schemes.