F.E.
Circular No. 19 |
August 07, 1997 |
All
Authorized Dealers
In Foreign Exchange,
Dear
Sirs,
The
following procedure has been prescribed for processing Hajj
applications under the Sponsorship Scheme for Hajj 1998
(1418 A.H.):-
-
Sponsors
abroad will be required to send a remittance of Rs.64,566
where the pilgrim intends to travel from Islamabad,
Lahore, Quetta or Peshawar and Rs.62,058/- where the
pilgrim intends to travel from Karachi in the shape
of instruments expressed in Pak Rupees/other currencies,
if remittance in Rupees is not possible, in the name
of intending pilgrims for Hajj 1998 to cover cost of
ticket for Islamabad/Jeddah/Islamabad, Lahore/Jeddah/Lahore,
Peshawar/Jeddah/Peshawar, Quetta/Jeddah/Quetta or Karachi/Jeddah/Karachi,
as the case may be, the foreign exchange quota and other
charges. No PTA or ticket should be sent from abroad.
-
Applications
will be received by all authorized branches of the National
Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited,
Muslim Commercial Bank Limited and Allied Bank of Pakistan
Limited from 7th August to 20th
September, 1997. On being approached, the concerned
Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Muslim Commercial
Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Muslim Commercial
Bank Limited and Allied Bank of Pakistan Limited will
arrange for encashment of the remittances received from
abroad and help the applicants to fill in the prescribed
Hajj application form.
-
Hajj
applications must be dispatched to the Hajj Office on
the very day the applications are completed. Issue of
encashment certificates and transmission of Rupee proceeds
will be done subsequently as indicated at (iv), (v)
and (vi) below.
-
Remittances
received under the Sponsorship Hajj Scheme may fall
in any of the following three categories:-
-
Draft/M.T./T.T.
drawn on the National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank
Limited, United Bank Limited, Muslim Commercial Bank
Limited and Allied Bank of Pakistan Limited, whose
branch has been approached by the intending pilgrim.
-
Draft/M.T./T.T.
drawn on a bank in Pakistan other than the
bank whose branch is dealing with the intending pilgrim.
-
Draft
drawn on a bank outside Pakistan which is to be sent
for collection abroad. A temporary receipt will be
issued by the bank to the applicant pending finalization
of the encashment certificate, which process must
be completed by the Banks within 14 days of the first
contact by the intending pilgrim. There would not
be any difficulty in observing the aforesaid time
limit in respect of remittances under category (a)
and (b) above. However, in case of drafts mentioned
at (c) above, a period of more than 14 days may be
required for realization of such drafts from the drawee
banks abroad. The banks will arrange for outright
purchase of such drafts and issue encashment certificates
giving probable month in which the realization is
expected. In cases where a draft is subsequently dishonored,
an immediate intimation should be sent to the Computer
Office (Hajj), Islamabad.
-
Rupee
proceeds of Rs.64,566 or Rs.62,058/-, as the case may
be, per pilgrim must be transmitted to the Ministry
of Religious Affairs within the time limit of 14 days
mentioned above.
-
Encashment
Certificate for the purpose will be issued in triplicate.
The original copy will be for the pilgrim for presentation
to the bank booth at Haji Camp alongwith bank receipt
for issue of foreign exchange. The second copy will
be sent to the Hajj Cell in the Head Office of the concerned
bank. The third copy will be retained by the issuing
bank for their own reference and record.
-
Where
the rupee proceeds of the remittances expressed in other
currencies at the exchange rate prevailing on the dates
remittances were sent from abroad exceed the prescribed
amount of Rs.64,566 or Rs.62,058/- as the case may be
the excess amount will be refunded to the applicants
on the date of submitting the Hajj Applications.
-
In
cases where the Rupee equivalent of the remittances
at the exchange rates prevailing on the dates remittances
were sent from abroad works out to Rs.73,249 or Rs.62,058/-
as the case may be, the same will be accepted by the
banks even though the Rupee proceeds may fall short
of the prescribed amount of Rs.73,249 or Rs.62,058/-
as the case may be, at the exchange rates prevailing
at the time of encashment. The shortfall in such cases,
will not be demanded from the applicants.
-
In
cases where for reasons other than fluctuations in exchange
rates, the short-fall in the Rupee equivalent of foreign
currency drafts does not exceed Rs.300/- per pilgrim,
the amount of shortfall may be accepted from the applicants
in Rupees.
-
In
all other cases of short-fall the remittances should
not be accepted and the applicants advised to arrange
for remittance of additional amount to make up the difference
before the 20th September, 1997 being the last date
for receipt of applications under the Sponsorship Hajj
Scheme 1998.
-
The
banks may use their own format of encashment certificate
designed to suit their needs but it must clearly indicate
that the encashment certificate is under Sponsorship
Hajj Scheme 1998.
-
No
application under the Sponsorship Hajj Scheme will be
entertained by the banks after the 20th September, 1997.
-
Release
of Hajj Quota, as usual, will be reported to the State
Bank of Pakistan on Form H duly supported
by the original copy of the relative encashment certificate.
Duplicate copy of the encashment certificate may be
used by the banks after proper verification in cases
where a pilgrim has lost his own original copy. Form
H used for release of foreign exchange under
the Sponsorship Hajj Scheme should be marked prominently
with the following stamp:
"HAJJ
QUOTA UNDER SPONSORSHIP SCHEME"
2.
It may please be emphasized on your branches to provide
prompt, efficient and courteous service to the intending
pilgrims and to ensure meticulous observance of the time
schedule laid down for dispatch of Hajj applications and
transmission of Rupee proceeds to the Ministry of Religious
Affairs. The need for exercising extra vigilance and care
in processing the Hajj applications may also be impressed
upon the dealing officials so that complaints form intending
pilgrims are eliminated as far as possible.
3.
Please issue immediate instructions to your all branches
for compliance of the above instructions.
|
|
|