A ballot to select about 1,00,000 intending Haj pilgrims under the government scheme for Haj-2005 is likely to be held during the last week of this month.
However, Minister for Religious Affairs Ejaz-ul-Haq would soon announce the exact date for the Haj balloting, secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs Vakil Ahmed Khan told APP here on Sunday.
About delay in the announcement of date for the balloting, he said only those applicants having the computerised national identity cards, issued by the Nadra, were eligible for performance of Haj.
"Hence, we approached Nadra for verification of CNICs of the all applicants and they agreed to set up their terminal in the ministry for this purpose."
He expressed the confidence that the verification process would be completed in a short span of time.
Responding to a question, he said the applications of only those applicants would be entertained who posses the original CNICs. About other arrangements, he said the data entry of all the intending pilgrims has been completed to ensure a fair and transparent balloting.
The particulars of successful pilgrims will be placed on website after the balloting, he added.
The secretary informed that the list of Haj group organisers is being provided to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi consulates so that they could apply for multiple visa to visit Saudi Arabia.
"They are not allowed to go on Umra visa for arranging private or hotel accommodation in Saudi Arabia for their clients," he added.
Vakil Ahmed Khan said under the new Haj policy, announced for next five years, about 150,000 people would perform the next Haj from Pakistan.
While the ministry has received more than 130,000 applications under the government scheme and about 50,000 under private scheme for the next Haj, he added.
Under the government scheme, all the arrangements, including Haj passport, visa, flights, accommodation, transport and tents would be made by the government.
While Haj service agents and Haj group organisers registered with the ministry are responsible for all the arrangements under the private scheme. The ministry, however, would prepare passports for private scheme, as performance of Haj on international passports is not allowed.
The groups of elderly pilgrims would be sent first and accommodated in the buildings near to the Harmain-e-Sharifain.
ACCOMMODATION: This year, the residential accommodation for pilgrims would be in two categories, which would be named, as 'Green and Yellow'.
The Green accommodation would be at a distance of 800 meters, while Yellow at a distance of 1300 meters from the Haram.
The intending pilgrims would be airlifted from Multan, Faisalabad and Sukkur to Karachi by special flights for their onward journey to Jeddah.
The check-in, customs, immigration and Haji camps are being restored at Multan, Faisalabad and Sukkur.
The pilgrims would stay for 40 days in Saudi Arabia during the forthcoming Haj.