Minister of Religious Affairs, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, on Thursday informed Standing Committee on Religious Affairs that about 75,000 buildings have so far been hired for the intending pilgrims. The committee met here under the chairmanship of Moulana Mohammad Qasim and was attended by Engineer Mohammad Tariq Khattak, Rana Mohammad Farooq Saeed Khan, Mazhar Hayat Khan, Muhammad Nawaz Allai, Malik Bilal Rehman and Syed Khurshed Ahmed Shah.
Khursheed Shah informed the committee that process to hire remaining buildings would be completed by July 15. The Minister said this time the ministry is making all possible efforts to provide best available facilities to the intending pilgrims. However, he said: "Hajj is the name of hard work." For the first time in the history, all 86,000 Hajj applicants have been declared eligible for performing the Hajj 2011.
"All the applicants, who submitted applications in various banks by May 29 has been declared as eligible to perform Hajj 2011 as the Government has withdrawn its 15 percent quota with the resolve to facilitate the intending pilgrims." The Minister said, as per past practices, the government allocates 15 percent quota to facilitate the labours and the needy.
He said the process of submitting applications was started on May 15 and within ten days, on May 26, about 76,000 people had submitted their applications in various banks; while the total number of intending pilgrims reached 86,000 on May 29. He said it was difficult for the ministry to refuse the pilgrims who wish to reach the holy land for performing the religious obligations. Khursheed Shah said banks have submitted 78,000 passports to the ministry as it has been decided to dispatch 7,000 passports daily to Saudi Embassy for stamping visa.
He said this time about 9,000 people will be accommodated in the one building. "Intending pilgrims belonging to same districts will be accommodated in one flight, one building and one Maktub." He said each building will be provided service of two doctors and two paramedical staff. PIA flight schedule and all other information would be dispatched to the successful pilgrims by August 1. First time it has also been decided to train about 16,000 group leaders, he added.
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