Haj 2018: 21 embarkation points to continue

Govt. of India has agreed to continue 21 embarkation points for sending Haj pilgrims from India to Saudi Arabia. In addition to it, it has also agreed to continue reserved category of Haj pilgrims of 70-years and above.

It may be mentioned that a high power committee constituted by Govt. of India to draft new Haj Policy had recommended to reduce embarkation points from 21 to 9 and to abolish reserve quota for the Haj pilgrims of 70 years and above.

On the recommendation of Central Haj Committee, Govt. of India agreed to continue the old policy instead of accepting new recommendations. This was disclosed by the Chairman of Central Haj Committee, Mr. Chowdhary Mahboob Ali Qaisar, MP at the meeting of executive officers and chairmen of Haj Committees of various states held in Mumbai. He informed that getting



coupons for Qurbani by the Haj pilgrims should be retained as optional whereas in the revised Hajj policy of Govt. of India it was mandatory.

Two categories of Green and Azizia would continue whereas in the Haj Policy it was suggested to merge both the categories into one.

The Chairman of the Central Haj Committee also told that the restoration of Haj quota for the applicants who fail to get seats even after submitting applications four times is under consideration.

The meeting was attended by CEO of Central Haj Committee Dr. Maqsood Ahmed Khan, Mr. Syed Farooq, Minister of J&K, Mr. Roshan Baig, Minister of Karnataka, Mr. Nizamuddin, Dy. Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India and Prof. S.A. Shukoor, Special Officer, Telangana Haj Committee.