Short validity passport for Haj pilgrims

New Delhi: People who want to go on Haj but
lack proper travel documents can now breathe easy as they will
have the facility of a speedy short validity passport.

"Ministry of External Affairs has issued instructions to
all Regional Passport Officers in the country to issue a short
validity passport to Haj pilgrims pending receipt of police
verification report," the Ministry spokesman said today.
He said that in order to enable prospective Haj pilgrims
to obtain passport, the Haj Committee has decided to extend
the last date for submission of Haj application forms from
April 16 to April 25.
More than 1,70,000 pilgrims from India would be
performing Haj this year.

PTI