Hajj Minister Dr. Fouad Bin Abdul-salam Al-Farsi announced yesterday that work on the expansion of the Jamrat (stoning area) in Mina would start soon after the end of this Hajj season. Speaking to reporters after inspecting preparations under way in the holy sites of Mina and Arafat, Al-Farsi said the new Jamrat project would solve many problems being faced by pilgrims while performing the stoning ritual. Al-Farsi thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for sanctioning the SR4 billion project, which is designed to accommodate nearly four million pilgrims in the Jamrat area at a time. In August, King Abdullah, accompanied by top officials including Governor of Makkah region Prince Abdul-Majeed Bin Abdulaziz, inspected the Jamrat. Bakr Binladin, chairman of Binladin Group, briefed the king on the project, which will be completed in four years. --MORE 10 57 Local Time 07 57 GMT
