Telangana tries to get Saudi consulate in Hyderabad
Saudi government too had expressed interest in setting up a consulate in Hyderabad to extend its services to the southern states.
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is trying to convince Saudi Arabian authorities to set up a consulate in Hyderabad. Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali on Thursday said that the Saudi government too had expressed interest in setting up a consulate in Hyderabad to extend its services to the southern states.
He added that in response to a letter by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao through external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, the Saudi government had responded positively for setting up a consulate in the city.
The deputy CM said that since every year hundreds pilgrims from Telangana applied for Umrah and Haj, and also in view of the frequent problems with migrant labourers from Telangana, the government had decided to convince the Saudi government to set up a consulate in Hyderabad.
While reviewing the arrangements for Haj 2016, which is commencing from August 21, with 26 departments here in Haj House, the deputy Chief Minister said that he would visit Riyadh in the last week of October to discuss with Saudi officials the issue of setting up a consulate.
Mr Ali said as many as 4,100 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana would leave for Haj between August 21 and 28, and Air India would arrange for 15 special flights.
While stating that the Haj camp would begin from August 19, Mr Ali said that all departments including Air India, Immigration, Customs, GHMC, Transco and the police would render services for the departure and arrival of Haj pilgrims.
Mr Syed Omer Jaleel, special secretary to the Minority Welfare department, Mr Momin Ahmad Hussain, chairman of Andhra Pradesh Haj Committee, Prof. S.A. Shukoor, special officer to the Telangana Haj Committee and others were present.