Union Minister Smriti Irani Engages in Bilateral Meetings on Haj Agreement Sidelines

New Delhi: Union Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) and Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani, along with V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, held crucial bilateral discussions during their visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The meetings were conducted on the sidelines of the signing ceremony for the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Smt. Irani met with H.E. Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in Türkiye, and separately with Dato’ Setia Dr. Hj. Na’im bin Hj. Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs). The discussions focused on the exchange of experiences related to Haj management and administration, fostering collaboration and exploring avenues for further exchange of ideas.

During the meetings, there was a comprehensive exchange of ideas on best practices in Haj management, digital initiatives to enhance service delivery, and the establishment of robust and reliable medical facilities for pilgrims. The discussions also specifically addressed the care and facilitation of women pilgrims.

The engagements concluded with a commitment to explore further collaboration and exchange of ideas to ensure the maximum benefits from the adoption of best practices, aiming to enhance the experience of Haj pilgrims. The bilateral meetings underscored the significance of international cooperation in the effective and seamless management of Haj operations.