Officials at the Home Ministry said it was still unclear as to when the government would give full shape to the committee. Those planning to make pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina this year should reach Saudi Arabia by November 20, 2009.
The government so far has appointed Abdul Jabbar Manjari as chairman and Abdul Kalam Khan as member secretary of the 21-member Hajj Committee. The Hajj Committee is entrusted to take Nepali pilgrims to the holy places. Among others, the 21-member Hajj Committee comprises two officio members from various mosques in the country and one each from Home, Foreign, Finance, Tourism and Culture and Federal Affairs ministries.
“There has neither been the nomination of officio members from the ministries concerned nor has there been nomination of other 12 members of the committee,” complained an official of the Home Ministry. Sources said the government has not been able to appoint 12 members of the committee due to pressure from various political party or groups to appoint their men as the members.
Saudi government has made it mandatory for pilgrims to furnish contract paper with house owners for temporary residence in Saudi Arabia to apply for the visa. “A team should have already reached Saudi Arabia by now to arrange temporary settlements for the visiting pilgrims,” complained Member Secretary of the Hajj Committee Abdul Kalam Khan.
There are chances that all the houses meant for pilgrims´ temporary settlement would already be occupied by the time Nepali team reaches there. Such a team leaves Nepal for house arrangement in Saudi Arabia only after the cabinet endorses the decision of the Hajj Committee and Finance Ministry releases the necessary budget.
The Hajj Committee determines total expense each visiting pilgrim has to pay to the government after signing house contract and a separate contract with an airline company. “However, we have not been able to determine the cost even as we have invited applications from the aspiring pilgrims,” Khan added. On an average, some 500 Nepali pilgrims visit holy Mecca and Medina every year.
Saudi govt enforces new visa regulation to pilgrims
Saudi Government has decided to restrict visa to pilgrims above 65 years of age this year. Unlike in the past, those below 12-year of age will also be denied visa.
According to the Nepali Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi authorities have also decided to restrict visa to those suffering from Swine Flu and other chronic diseases. The embassy sent a letter to the Home Ministry to this effect on Sunday, asking the latter to process the applications accordingly.
Related story
Stranded 1,225 Indian pilgrims airlifted to Nepalgunj, Surkhet
-1200x560-1774606010.webp)
