VIP quota abolished in Haj Policy-2023

SRINAGAR — Announcing the Haj-2023 policy for this year’s holy pilgrimage, the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) on Monday said that this year there will be 25 Haj embankment points while Haj application forms will be made available after three days and there will be no fee for the same.

While talking exclusively to the news agency KNO, Member HCoI, Er Aijaz Hussain said that after a crucial meeting of HCoI, it was decided that this year there will be 25 embankment points for the pilgrims across the country and Haj application forms will be made available within three days. He said that pilgrims above “70 years of age will be given top priority for the sacred journey.”

Er Aijaz also said that HCoI also announced abolishing the VIP quota under which dignitaries were entitled to accommodate 5 to 10 pilgrims under the quota. “There will be no VIP quota henceforth,” Er Aijaz said.

Pertinently, after thorough discussions between HCoI and the Saudi Government, it was decided that this year over 1,75000 pilgrims will perform the holy pilgrimage of Haj 2023.

Er Aijaz said that additional embankment points will help facilitate the pilgrims smoothly across the country. He said that HCoIs endeavour this year will be to make Haj2023 cheaper compared to previous years and ensure more and better facilities for pilgrims at both holy cities of Makah and Madina.

On January 10, India signed a bilateral agreement with the Saudi Government to fix the total number of pilgrims this year.