MJAH proposes riyal-enabled ATM cards for Haj.

TOBA TEK SINGH -- Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith (MJAH) central leader Maulana Muhammad Yousaf Anwar has proposed to the federal finance ministry and the State Bank to introduce riyal-rupee based ATM cards for the Muslims intending to perform Haj and Umrah.

In a statement on Saturday at Faisalabad, he said every year approximately 1.4 million Pakistanis visit Saudia Arabia to perform Haj and Umrah. He said in order to facilitate them and encourage them to prefer ATM cards instead of carrying currency to meet their financial needs in Saudi Arabia, the government should issue ATM cards.

The MJAH leader said last year 81,132 and 1,267,490 Pakistanis performed Haj and Umrah, respectively. He said in addition to these travellers, 2.4m Pakistani are also rendering services there.

He said people with temporary visa carry riyal and the chances of their theft or going missing could not be omitted. He said Pakistanis spend billions of rupees every year and they could be facilitated with a...