Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Thursday urged the private tour operators and individuals to refrain from collecting money from the intending pilgrims in advance, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The ministry said it had not permitted any tour operator to receive money or applications for Hajj-2022 so far.

The ministry said there were certain private tour operators and individuals allegedly involved in collecting money in the wake of Hajj applications or registration which was totally an illegal act and a punishable offence.

The ministry had urged the people not to hand over their passports and money to any individual or operator, unless a list of private tour operators with Hajj quota was posted on the ministry’s website www.hajjinfo.org and authorization of them to receive Hajj applications, he added.

The ministry said if people found involved any individual or operator in this illegitimate practice, they should immediately intimate the ministry on its given phone numbers, 051-9205696, 051-9216980-82, so that a necessary disciplinary action may be taken against them in accordance with the law.

The ministry made it clear that those who did not follow the ministry’s instructions, they would be responsible for their own loss. The ministry said also clarified that it had allowed designated branches of the schedule banks to collect the Hajj applications with token money of Rs 50, 000.