ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (APP):As many as 22,172 intending pilgrims under the Government Hajj Scheme have submitted the second instalment of their Hajj dues since the collection process began on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
A ministry spokesperson said 12,743 pilgrims paid their dues through One-Link, while 1,089 used bank cards and another 8,340 submitted the amount through manual bank challans.
The spokesperson said the introduction of the Digital Hajj Portal had significantly encouraged online payments, with the share of digital submissions rising to more than 55 per cent.
So far, the government has collected Rs14.17 billion in second-instalment Hajj dues, reflecting a substantial response from pilgrims as the payment process gets under way.
Pilgrims have been advised to complete the payment process within the stipulated timeframe, with October 20 set as the final date for submission of the second instalment under the Government Hajj Scheme.
The ministry also reminded intending pilgrims that uploading a medical fitness certificate on the Hajj Portal is mandatory before submitting the second instalment, making the certificate an essential requirement for completing the process.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
