ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The religious affairs ministry is making preparations for holding ballot to choose 120,000 pilgrims out of the 165,000 applications received under the regular Haj scheme for the year 2004.

“A summary to fix the date for Haj ballot has been sent to the prime minister for approval,” sources told APP here on Wednesday.

The prime minister would take a decision in this regard soon after his return from the US, an official said.

The sources said, the ministry had received more than 165,000 applications from intending pilgrims under the regular scheme.

There would be a ballot to select 120,000 pilgrims as the number of applications had surpassed the stipulated quota.

Under the new Haj policy, as many as 120,000 intending pilgrims would be sent for Haj from Pakistan under the regular scheme. While another 10,000 pilgrims would be sent under open Haj scheme.

The ministry had so far received more than 2,000 applications under the open Haj scheme through selected branches of seven banks in the country.

The banks would continue to accept applications under the open Haj scheme till Oct 15.

The ministry, the sources said, had also ensured to provide proper residential accommodation to the pilgrims during Haj.

The sources said, instead of international passports, all pilgrims would be provided Haj passports.

Till Oct 31, it would be made clear to every intending pilgrim about the confirmation for Haj.

The sources informed that the ministry had also initiated the process of selecting Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj and medical mission for Haj-2004.—APP