Haj balloting likely on September 20

The ballot, to select about 100,000 intending pilgrims under the government scheme for Haj-2005, is likely to be held on September 20.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs had received more than 130,000 applications under the scheme and about 50,000 under private scheme for the next Haj, official sources said here on Friday.
All the arrangements including the data entry of all the intending pilgrims had been completed to ensure a fair and transparent balloting, the sources said, adding the particulars of successful pilgrims would be placed on website after the ballot.
The sources said that the Haj group organisers' list was being provided to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi Consulates so that they could apply for multiple-visa to visit Saudi Arabia. They were not allowed to go on Umrah-visa for arranging private or hotel accommodation in Saudi Arabia for their clients, it added.
Under the new Haj policy announced for next five years, about 150,000 people would perform the next Haj from Pakistan. Under the 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. However, the Ministry would prepare passports for private scheme, as performance of the Haj on international passports is not allowed.
The groups of elderly pilgrims would be sent first and accommodated in the buildings near to Harmain-e-Sharifain. The residential accommodation for Hujjaj, this year, would be in two categories, named as 'Green and Yellow.' The Green accommodation would be at distance of 800 meters, while Yellow at distance of 1,300 meters from 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 in Multan, Faisalabad and Sukkur. The pilgrims would stay for 40 days in Saudi Arabia during the forthcoming Haj.