Hajj 2011: Housing problems haunt pilgrims again

Hajj pilgrims complain that the place of residence provided to them in Makkah is 7km away from Haram al Sharif.

MAKKAH: Despite the unearthing of last year's Hajj scam, local pilgrims on the holy pilgrimage have found themselves at the mercy of tour operators once again.

One group of Hajj pilgrims complained that the place of residence provided to them in Makkah is seven kilometres away from Haram al Sharif.

A pilgrim from Sargodha said that the building they were told about in the programme is different from the one actually allotted to them.

The pilgrim’s residence is seven kilometres away from Haram al Sharif and the building has only one lift for 200 people, he said.

The director of Hajj operations is also demanding an additional amount of approximately Rs11,000 from the pilgrims for shifting them to Madina.

Following an argument with the pilgrims, the administration closed its office and left.

In 2010, Hajj pilgrims travelling through the government scheme faced immense problems due to lack of accommodations and unwillingness on the part of the administrators to provide any help.

The buildings purchased by the Hajj administrators were five kilometres away from Haram al Sharif, while according to laws, the accommodations should not be more than two kilometres away.

Most of the pilgrims spent nights on footpaths and roads due to the negligence of the Pakistani Hajj administrators. Many were deprived of housing facilities at Mina and paid high rent.