Govt starts refunding Hajj charges.

ISLAMABAD -- The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Thursday initiated the process of refunding payment to applicants who had registered themselves for Hajj 2020 under the government scheme.

According to a spokesman for the ministry, the funds are being doled out through the designated bank branches across the country.

All successful Hajj applicants of the government scheme are being informed about payment of their amount via mobile phone messages.

The ministry decided to refund the government Hajj scheme charges following the Saudi government's decision to exclude pilgrims outside of the kingdom from performing Hajj this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, on June 23, Saudi...