Federal Religious Affairs Minister Syed Khurshid Shah on Thursday said that Haj applications will be treated on " first come first served" basis and no draw will be held in this regard in the year 2011. Addressing a Haj Conference organised by Haj organisers associations at a local hotel here, he said that applications for Haj Scheme would be received from April 10 to April 30.
He said that no body would be sent for Haj on the government expenditures this year, while quota system had been eliminated. The minister said that it was decided to pay all dues of to Pakistan International Airlines in advance and the government would not deposit Haj money in the banks, adding that the government would seek discount for pilgrims from the PIA in return.
He said that Haj ministry was arranging to hire residences for pilgrims well before time so that better accommodations could be arranged for them.
He said the government would ask the Saudi government to give multiple visas for at least two to three months for Haj pilgrims so that they could travel two times to Saudi Arabia.
Khurshid said that Haj ministry would employ 900 Haj assistants (Khuddam) from Saudi Arabia instead of Pakistan so that better services could be provided to Haj pilgrims and no worker would be hired from Pakistan in the recent year. He said that it would be ensured to appoint one assistant for 200 Haj pilgrims, while one doctor and one paramedical staff would be appointed for 1000 Haj pilgrims. He said that residences were expansive with in the 1000-meter radius from Haram Sharif, so it was decided that economical residences would be hired and transport would be provided to Haj pilgrims so that expenses could be reduced.
He said that train service would be utilised to carry pilgrims from Makkah to Mina this year, which would also decrease travel expenditures. He said that private tour operators would be registered for five years and already registered 96 tour operators would also be given chance to organise Haj.
The minister said that no woman would be allowed to travel without wearing `Abbaya' for Haj this year and security would be provided for all sects of Muslims.
He said that he should be informed if any official of the FIA tried to blackmail the tour operators so that an action could be taken. Answering a question about Hamid Saeed Kazmi, former minister, while talking to the media, he said that matter was sub-judice, however he said that he had found no evidence against Hamid during his visit to Saudi Arabia.