KARACHI, Feb 9: The priority in Haj balloting should be given to those Pakistanis who want to perform Haj for the first time and all others be included in the second balloting.

This was one of the recommendations made by Sindh Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs Dr Irfan Gul Magsi while addressing a press conference at his office on Monday.

Dr Magsi, who returned here on Sunday after performing Haj, gave details of the Haj operation and the recommendations he had sent to the federal government to facilitate the intending pilgrims in future.

He recommended the government to black list 11 private Haj groups, as they were found fleecing people and not extending the facilities which they had promised to charge extra amount.

The minister said that out of 0.13 million Pakistanis, who had performed Haj this year, over 72,000 people were sent under regular scheme of the government while 48,000 performed Haj through private services.

He suggested the government to send one attendant with each pilgrim above 65 years of age. Other suggestions include selection of Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj on merit; allowing private Haj groups only after they get NOC from DG Haj Directorate in Saudi Arabia; and giving subsidy in deserving cases.

Dr Magsi also suggested that a media centre should be established at the Pakistani Consulate in Saudi Arabia to facilitate media persons. The minister said that he had recommended the federal government to start Haj preparations soon after the Haj season to complete the whole process in time. He said that Haj operations started very late this year and the intending pilgrims had to stay too far from the holy places.

He said that another problem faced by Pakistani pilgrims was the difficulty in identifying their tents and buildings. This problem could easily be dealt with if green colour was coated on buildings, tents and green jackets was provided to all Pakistani pilgrims.

The minister said that the PIA completed Haj operation with 365 flights to Jeddah while the operation to bring back the pilgrims had started from Feb 5. Over 17,000 pilgrims had come back home by Feb 8, he added.

Giving further details, he said, 118 pilgrims passed away during the pilgrimage. Ten pilgrims were killed in three traffic accidents while 68 died of heart failure and 40 Pakistanis were among those 255 pilgrims, who lost their life in stampede during Rammi.