Question : HAJ PILGRIMAGE ON INTERNATIONAL PASSPORTS

(a) whether only international passport will be valid for Haj pilgrimage;

(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to get the passports of Haj pilgrims made urgently for the Haj pilgrimage-2012;

(c) whether due to certain reasons, the issuance of passports has been a complicated and time-taking process in the regional passport offices;

(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to make special arrangements for preparation of passports of Haj pilgrims on priority basis;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)

(a) Yes;

(b) to (f) All Regional Passport Offices/Passport Offices have been instructed to issue normal passports to all the prospective Haj pilgrims on priority, whose Police Verification Report (PVR) and other formalities are complete. Completion of formalities such as receipt of PVR sometimes take time for issuance of passports. For those prospective Haj pilgrims whose Police Verification Report has not been received, Regional Passport Offices/Passport Offices (RPOs/POs) have been authorized to issue Short Validity Passports valid for one year for Saudi Arabia only. In addition, special drives have been launched by all RPOs to clear the backlog of applications of prospective Haj pilgrims by opening special counters for submission, deploying additional officials, working over weekends, counter delivery of passports etc.