F.E.
Circular No. 38 |
October 03, 1995 |
All
Authorized Dealers
In Foreign Exchange,
Dear
Sirs,
The
following procedure has been prescribed for processing Hajj
applications under the Sponsorship Scheme for Hajj 1995
(1416 A.H.):-
-
Sponsors
abroad will be require4d to send a remittance of Rs.54,266/-
where the pilgrim intends to travel from Islamabad,
Lahore, Quetta or Peshawar, Sukkur & Multan Rs.52,176/-
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 1997 to cover
cost of ticket for Islamabad / Jeddah / Islamabad, Lahore
/ Jeddah / Lahore, Peshawar/Jeddah/Peshawar, Quetta
/ Jeddah / Quetta, Sukkur, Multan / Jeddah / Multan
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 1st October to 15th November,
1995. 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.54,266/- or Rs.52,176/-, 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.54,266/- or Rs.52,176/- 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.54,266/- or Rs.52,176/-
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.54,266/- or Rs.52,176/-
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 15 November, 1995 being the last date for
receipt of applications under the Sponsorship Hajj Scheme
1996.
-
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 1996.
-
No
application under the Sponsorship Hajj Scheme will be
entertained by the banks after the 15th November, 1995.
-
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.
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