25 Feb :Passport offices will open special counters for issuing passports to Haj pilgrims as Saudi Arabia has informed that pilgrims will need to have the travel document to conduct the pilgrimage.This was disclosed by Minister of State for External Affairs Minister E Ahamed in Lok Sabha during the question hour on Wednesday.
"Passport offices will facilitate issuance of passports to Haj pilgrims by opening special counters during the Haj season. Issue of passports under the Tatkal scheme will be available to Haj pilgrims," Ahamed said.
The government has also issued instructions to all passport offices to ensure availability of passport booklets to meet the additional demand during the Haj season.
Saudi Arabia has informed India that from this year, visas for Haj pilgrims will be issued only on normal "international" passports and not on the Haj pilgrim "passes" as has been the practice till last year."However, the government intends to approach the Saudi authorities for a reconsideration of and allow the existing system to continue for one more year," Ahmed said.