Religious Ministry launches sms service for verification of private Hajj tour operators

PESHAWAR: Ministry of Religious Affairs and Hajj Wednesday launched an sms service for the help of intending Haj pilgrims to verify authenticity of private tour operators.

“The sms service (8331) will provide details about any private Haj tour operator and save people from being cheated in the name of cheap Hajj services,” said Director Media Religious Affairs Ministry, Imran Siddique. Talking to newsmen at a Media Awareness Workshop jointly organized by Ministry of Religious Affairs and Hajj Organizations of Pakistan (HOP), Imran Siddique said a number of people are be-fooled by fake tour operators who cheat intending pilgrims by making fake claims of organizing cheap Hajj.

This year he continued, the sms service is launched through which authenticity of every private Hajj tour operation can be verified by sending his enrollment number at 8331. He said there are around 798 private tour operators registered with Religious Ministry and only these are authorized for sending pilgrims for Hajj.

All those who are not registered with the Ministry are fake groups and people should use this sms service for verification, he reiterated. Director Media also informed that Religious Ministry has also launched five Apps for facilitation of Hujjaj.

These five apps, he continued, provides guidelines about performance of Hajj, location guidance at Mina and relevant supplications. Hujjaj can very easily download these apps on both android and apple phones and benefit from guidance provided in it.