The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MORA) has signed an agreement with Habib Bank Limited (HBL) to enable digital payment of Hajj dues, with 1LINK and the National Information Technology Board (NITB) facilitating the integration. Under the arrangement, HBL will also serve as the settlement bank for receipts collected by MORA, creating a more streamlined payment process for citizens preparing to perform Hajj.
Under the new arrangement, intended Hujjaj will be able to pay their Hajj dues directly from their bank accounts through 1LINK 1BILL and HBL’s available banking channels. The digital payment facility is designed to reduce reliance on manual payment processes and eliminate the need for applicants to stand in long queues. Citizens will be able to make payments through their preferred available banking channels, providing greater convenience and accessibility during the Hajj payment process.
1LINK’s role as the bill aggregator enables MORA’s Hajj dues to be integrated into the 1BILL payment infrastructure, while NITB is supporting the technology integration. HBL’s role as settlement bank will facilitate the processing and settlement of receipts collected for the ministry. The collaboration brings together government, banking and payment infrastructure to digitize an important public-service payment process.
The signing ceremony was attended by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, 1LINK Chief Merchant, Schemes & Alliances Bashir Khan, MORA Director General Khalid Rafique and HBL Head of Islamic Banking Asad Khan, along with representatives from their respective teams. The participating organizations highlighted their shared focus on creating a secure, accessible and convenient payment ecosystem for Pakistani citizens.
The initiative represents another expansion of digital payment infrastructure into government services, allowing citizens to complete Hajj-related payments through established banking and payment channels. By connecting MORA with 1LINK 1BILL and HBL’s banking network, the partnership is expected to make the payment process more convenient while reducing manual handling and improving the overall digital experience for intended Hujjaj.
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