ISLAMABAD (APP) - Computerised balloting for selecting eighty thousand pilgrims under the government Haj scheme for the year 2009 will be held here on August 6th. Sources told APP here that as many as 1,60,000 persons would perform the forthcoming Haj under the government regular as well as sponsored Haj schemes. The sources said the first Haj flight is scheduled to take off on October 22 where as the last Haj flight will depart on November 23. They said that applicant declared successful after the balloting would have to submit their Machine Readable Passport within five-day of the Haj draw in their respective banks. Applicants who remained unsuccessful for consecutive two previous years would be declared successful this year without balloting, they added. Similarly, they said unsuccessful applicants of this year would be declared successful in the next year, if they do not withdraw Haj dues deposited by them. The sources said a total of 146,547 intending pilgrims would be airlifted by the PIA where as Saudi Airlines has also agreed to ferry 13,100 pilgrims from Pakistan. About 131,647 pilgrims would land at King Abdul Aziz International Air Port, Jeddah where as many as 28,000 pilgrims would enter the Kingdom through Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Air Port, Madinah. The total Haj package including airfare from Karachi/ Quetta would be Rs 185,000 and for other stations it would be Rs. 200,000 per pilgrim. After deduction of compulsory Haj dues, accommodation charges and special services charges payable to Saudi agencies, the balance amount in foreign exchange would be returned to intending pilgrims in cash before their departure from Pakistan to meet day to day expenses in Saudi Arabia. Govt to preserve Bhasha Dam remains To protect thousands of centuries old remains discovered at the site of Diamer-Bhasha Dam, the Ministry of Culture has decided to built an open-air museum at Chilas in Northern Areas. Keeping in view the balance between the conservation, environment and the development in the country, the endangered rock carvings and inscriptions would be displayed in the museum in the form of 3D replicas. The Pak-German Archeological Mission has documented around 50,000 rock engravings and inscriptions while the ministry will make 3D Replicas for some of these rock carvings to preserve them in the museum for future generations, archaeologists and those interested in making research on the centuries old remains. An official in the Ministry of Culture told APP that ministry was making utmost endeavors and in this regard, a couple of meetings were held between the representatives of the ministry, WAPDA and cooperation with German Archaeological Mission to ascertain the remains of Gandhara for documentation. During these meetings, the process of cutting out the carvings and inscriptions was also discussed but it not feasible to undertake such a gigantic task at the site of Dam and the hardness of the granite required special machinery and considerable funding, the official added. Unfolding a magnificent chapter of human evolution through centuries, the Heidelberg Academy of Germany intends to preserve these unique cultural and historical remains for future generations. In the high mountains of Northern Pakistan, in adjoining Hindukush, the Western Himalayas and Karakorum, one of the worlds largest rock art provinces is spread along the banks of the Upper Indus. Around Chilas and Thalpan in the Diamer District, so far, more than 50,000 rock carvings and inscriptions have been discovered ranging from Epipalaeolithic or Neolithic (9th/8th millennium BC) to the coming of Islam (since 16th century). Their tremendous diversity not only permits insight into the history with different socio-cultural and political traditions as well as religious beliefs but also discloses the strategic importance of the region. Along the Upper Indus and its tributaries, there are more than 50,000 petroglyphs carved into boulders and rock faces representing a time span from the late stone age to the coming of Islam. More than 5000 inscriptions in a dozen writing systems belong to the Buddhist period. These remains record the expressions of different ages during the last 12,000 and capture mans perception of the natural elements - flora and fauna, animals, birds and beasts and their experience with these elements of nature. The endangered carvings of Diamer-Bhasha dam represent the great cultural flourishing and exchange of the Indus Valley regions portion of the Silk Road.