The Haj Ministry announced yesterday that the Haj visas of Syrian pilgrims would be processed without delay.
A Haj Ministry official said: “We are treating the arrival of Syrian pilgrims with the utmost care and importance, considering the difficult situation many face at home. They will be provided with the necessary facilities to perform Haj.”
E. Ahamed, India's minister of state for foreign affairs, met with Haj ministry officials to discuss Indian pilgrim affairs.
Ahamed commended Saudi government efforts in the service of pilgrims by expanding the two holy mosques and carrying out giant projects in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
“The new development projects in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites have been instrumental in helping pilgrims to perform their rituals easily and comfortably,” he said.
More than 175,000 Indian pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year.
Mohsina Kidwai, chairperson for the Haj Committee of India, earlier reviewed preparations for Indian pilgrims during her three-day visit to the Kingdom.
While expressing satisfaction over the arrangements, she instructed all Indian officials to serve pilgrims with sincerity.
In total, 479 buildings are reserved to accommodate 125,000 pilgrims coming through the HCI while an additional 45,000 pilgrims would be handled through private tour operators.
Indian pilgrims will be given a Saudi Telecom SIM card before they leave India. The SIMs will be pre-loaded with contact numbers of Indian consular officials.
In related news, four Saudi young men stopped Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar during his tour of the Car Syndicate in Makkah and complained the syndicate was delaying their appointment as drivers.
Muhammad Al-Otaibi said he and his three mates applied for driver's jobs to the syndicate’s personnel department many times during the last month. Hajjar promised their applications would be taken care of immediately.
The minister said owners of bus companies agreed to improve services by conducting maintenance of buses and providing necessary training to drivers.
Abdu Yamani, acting president of the syndicate said Haj transport companies made a total investment of more than SR 10 billion to purchase buses, building infrastructure, establish maintenance centers and provide salaries and housing for drivers.
Yamani said the syndicate generates 30,000 seasonal jobs for administrators and drivers and priority is given to Saudis when they apply.
