Islamabad:The Ministry of Religious Affairs has given private Hajj operators a final three-day deadline to activate their Hajj packages, warning that inactive quota may be confiscated if the instructions are not complied with by August 31.

According to sources in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hajj organizers have been directed to activate package categories corresponding to their allocated quota on the Hajj Management System within three days.

Sources said that only 54 bookings had been made against the 71,684 seats allocated to the private Hajj scheme during the first five days of payment collection, leaving 99.9 percent of the private quota unutilized.

The ministry has warned that failure to activate the packages within the stipulated period could result in the confiscation of the inactive quota.

According to the ministry's letter, the confiscated quota may subsequently be allocated to other Hajj companies. The inactive quota could also be included in the government Hajj scheme, sources said.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has further directed all private Hajj operators to ensure that their complete package categories are activated on the Hajj Management System within the three-day deadline.

For the first time, intending pilgrims will be able to select private Hajj packages through the Ministry of Religious Affairs' website. Sources said private Hajj packages will be required to be advertised on the ministry's website for next year's Hajj.

Collection of dues under the private Hajj scheme commenced on August 23. Under the 40 percent private scheme quota, payments are being collected for 71,684 Hajj seats.