Hajj pilgrims directed to ensure biometric verification for visa issuance

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has directed the intending pilgrims to visit Etimad offices for biometric verification of finger prints as per their scheduled time and date with original bank receipts, copies of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNIC) and passports before leaving for Saudi Arabia for Hajj 1439 AH.

According to the ministry's press release, the process of biometric verification of intending pilgrims was continuing at 26 centres of Etimad, in Faisalabad, Multan, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore. Peshawar, Quetta, Sukkar, Sialkot and Rahim Yar Khan. The intending pilgrims below 6 years of age and over 80 years of age were exempted from biometric verification.

The ministry has already issued schedule for carrying biometric verification of intending pilgrims. The information about the schedule could be obtained from website www.hajjinfo.org or ministry's help lines (042) 111725425; (051) 9205696, (051) 9216980-82 and through Haji camps.

The use of biometric system for private Hajj pilgrims intending to go to perform Hajj through private scheme has been made mandatory. Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has already informed intending pilgrims through phone calls and SMS to ensure biometric verification, before submitting their passports for the issuance of visa.