By Abdulaziz Al-Rubaie

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has said that the cancellation of the condition of the mahram (male guardian) for women of all ages to be granted Umrah visa was not within its jurisdiction.

The National Committee for Haj and Umrah of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a recent meeting asked the Minister of Haj and Umrah Mohammed Saleh Banten to cancel this condition.

Ministry's spokesman, Hatim Qadi, said it is not within the authority of the ministry to cancel the mahram condition.

"This is rather the concern of other ministries and government departments not our ministry," he explained.

Chairman of the committee, Marwan Shaaban, said the requests presented to the minister during the meeting included the cancellation of the mahram condition.

He said these requests would require the consent of and the coordination with other concerned parties before being implemented.

He said he also asked the minister to exempt the counties which do not have regular systems for money transfers from the condition of remitting the Haj and Umrah fees to the ministry.

Shaaban said he and the other members of the committee presented as many as 11 recommendations to the minister to approve.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from the ministry, investors in the Umrah sector, hoteliers and other concerned officials.