Dr. Fuad Bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy, Minister of Haj, on Saturday inspected a number of Haj foundations here as part of his tour of Haj related services foundations. The visits included meetings with officials of the Haj Services National Foundation for Pilgrims of Turkey, Europe, America and Australia and Foundations for Pilgrims of non-Arab African countries and South Asia. The minister said the shuttle transport project would be implemented in Tawafa establishments for pilgrims from African and non-Arab countries and Iran this year and expressed the hope that the project will be implemented in all Tawafa establishments next year. Al-Farsy said a committee is studying the date for handing over of buildings on the foothills of Mina to investors. Several investors had objected that an insufficient period before the Haj was given to them preventing them from marketing the residential units. Al-Farsy said the ministry and the said committee have different viewpoints on the handing over date. Efforts are on to arrive at a consensus on the issue soon, the minister said. Commenting on the swine flu disease, Dr. Al-Farsy said that the Haj Ministry has been following all instructions issued by the Ministry of Health in this regard, and consequently delivering these instructions to the heads of Haj missions and asking them to comply with them to ensure the safety of pilgrims. He commended the great efforts exerted by the Ministry of Health and the continuing personal follow-up of Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, to combat the swine flu disease and to provide the required precautions.
