F.E.
Circular No. 34 |
September 25, 1996 |
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 (1417 A.H.):-
-
Sponsors
abroad will be require4d to send a remittance of Rs.64,566
where the pilgrim intends to travel from Islamabad,
Lahore, Quetta or Peshawar, Sukkur & Multan 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 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 14th November,
1996. 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 encahsment 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 1997.
-
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 1997.
-
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 SHCEME"
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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