Saudi Gazette MAKKAH —There is a remarkable increase in the number of pilgrims' residential buildings in Makkah, which currently crossed 7,000 buildings, said Engineer Zuhair Hadad, Head of the Committee for the Inspection of Pilgrims' Residential Buildings in Makkah. He said the committee strictly applies the measures set for the selection of the pilgrims' buildings without any exceptions as was the case in the past. He said one of the common problems facing the committee is the failure of the landlords to abide by the deadline set for issuing permits for the approved buildings, stressing that the committee always urges the landlords to complete the necessary formalities before the expiry of the deadline. About the mechanism used in approving the new buildings, he said the rules governing this process was announced in detail four years ago, stressing that the committee never compromises on these rules — a matter that reflects the great care and due attention the country's leaders attach to the pilgrims' safety. The committee has urged the landlords who are interested in renting their buildings for the Haj missions to expedite completing the inspection procedures, which is a must for getting permits. He urged them to meet the deadline set by the committee, which starts on Nov. 26, 2011 and finishes on May 21, 2012. He said the committee will continue issuing permits until the end of Shaban 1434H, pointing that the documented consultation engineering offices, Makkah Mayoralty and the civil Defense, are tasked with inspecting the pilgrims' buildings to ensure that they meet the safety measures set by the Ministry of Interior. He said the ministry has informed the landlords about the deadline set for the submission of the applications through SMS, ads on TV and dailies. Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, gave the go-ahead for establishing a chair in his name to study the pilgrims' housing in Makkah, Madina and the holy sites.
