Short validity passports to be issued for Haj pilgrims

The regional passport office here would be issuing ''short validity'' passports to Haj pilgrims.

These passports will be issued only for travel to Saudi Arabia during the Haj period.

"The directives have come after the Saudi government's decision to make international passport mandatory for all Haj pilgrims", regional passport officer Zahoor H Zaidi said here on Saturday.

These short validity passports will be issued within 15 days and will be valid for eight months, he said.

To apply for the passports, the applicants will have to provide the allotment number given by the Haj Committee besides other details like the date of birth and residence proof.