Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB)'s automated Hajj operations devised for the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony since 2013; being successfully implemented for the fourth year of Government Pilgrims Registration recorded a number of 374,857 Hajj applications, received from January 15 till January 24 at 9,581 branches of 13 designated banks across Pakistan under Hajj Policy 2018. This year 179,210 pilgrims from Pakistan will perform Hajj under Government Scheme and Private Hajj Scheme.

The designated 9,581 branches of Allied Bank Limited, Askari Bank Limited, Bank Al-Falah, Bank of Punjab, Dubai Islamic Bank, Faysal Bank Limited, Habib Bank Limited, Habib Metropolitan Bank, MCB Bank Limited, Meezan Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, United Bank Linited and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited received Hajj applications countrywide during the 10 days period.

PITB's Hajj automation is also being lauded at international level, in lieu of which PITB is providing assistance to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to automate their Hajj operations since last year.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018