All Pakistani pilgrims for the next Haj will be accommodated near the Jamarat Bridge, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, visiting Pakistani Minister of Religious Affairs, said on Monday. Talking to newsmen before his departure for Pakistan, Kazmi said he has been assured of this by Adnan Katib, Chairman of the South East Asia Tawafa Establishment. All pilgrims will be accommodated in Old Mina close to the Jamarat and shall enjoy full amenities, he said. The Haj section of the Pakistani consulate shall supervise all services and ensure that the pilgrims face no difficulty, he said. Regarding reports that a sum of SR50 will be charged as a guarantee for every pilgrim, Kazmi said this amount will be taken from the landlords of the buildings. Pilgrims will not have to pay the amount, he explained. Kazmi said the consulate has reserved accommodations which are some distance from the Grand Mosque in Makkah, but pointed out that pilgrims will be provided with shuttle service for all the obligatory prayers. He added that so far buildings to accommodate 18,000 pilgrims have been obtained and the consulate is in the process of reserving more.
