ISLAMABAD .:  (DNA) – The Religious Affairs ministry on Tuesday announced the names of 107,526 intending pilgrims selected after balloting from the government scheme’s quota.

The balloting took place under the supervision of Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sahibzada Noorul Haq Qadri.

He asked the intending pilgrims to contact the ministry for any help if needed.

Haq said those selected would be informed via a text message or they could check their names on the ministry’s official website.

The federal minister went on to say that successful aspirants had been asked to submit their passports in their respective banks.

While those who did not make the cut, can take back their money from their respective banks as per announcement of the ministry. Balloting was conducted to select 107,526 aspirants on the basis of 68,770 groups.

A group could consist of only one pilgrim from a total of 14 aspirants. The ministry had received 216,623 applications nationwide.

The set quota for Pakistan is 184,210. As many as 90,924 aspirants were selected through balloting. A total of 2,238 applicants of over 80 years; 12,251 applicants of three consecutive failure, 500 labour quota and hardship quota 1,613 have been selected sans balloting.