SRINAGAR: Chairing a Hajj review meeting for Hajj 2022, Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the selection process of pilgrims for next year’s Hajj would be based on Covid19 appropriate criteria and guidelines set by the governments of India and Saudi Arabia, including completion of all vaccine doses against the virus.
Naqvi also revealed that the announcement for Hajj 2022 would be made in the first week of November, which will also coincide with the start of the process for online applications for the Hajj. This year, he said Digital Health Card, E-Masiha healthy facility and E-Luggage pre-tagging, providing information regarding accommodation/transportation in Mecca-Medina, would be provided to all the Hajj pilgrims.
The process for Hajj is being chalked out after deliberations between the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Hajj Committee of India, Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia and India’s Consul General in Jeddah and other agencies keeping in view all aspects of challenges posed by the pandemic, a statement issued by the DIPR said.
He said that the Hajj 2022 arrangements have been started by keeping the health and Covid protocols of the Saudi and Indian governments in mind.
Naqvi said that the process for this year’s Haj would be entirely digital. Notably, India sends the second-highest number of pilgrims for Hajj after Indonesia.
Expected Haj quota for 2022, Haj Air Charter, Corona protocols, vaccination, medical facilities, health card, transport in Saudi Arabia, Haj deputation of officials, Khadim Ul Hujjaj, Haj training, Embarkation Points and other issues were discussed in the Haj review meeting, the statement said.
The review meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, CEO Haj Committee of India, India’s Consul General in Jeddah and Air India Executive Director
The arrangements for Haj 2022 are being made under special circumstances with special norms, rules and regulations, eligibility criteria, age restrictions, health and fitness requirements and other relevant conditions of the Saudi Arabia government amid the pandemic.
