Reiterating the Government’s firm commitment to extend all possible help for Haj, Krishna said: “The pilgrimage to the holy places of Makkah and Madinah is both a cherished and life-long dream, and a sacred duty for millions of Muslims brothers and sisters. We shall leave no stone unturned for making the fulfilment of their dream and duty as comfortable as we can.”
Seeking help from state governments, other departments and NGOs, Krishna said that the Haj management was so vast that centre could not handle it alone. 
Delivering inaugural address at the annual Haj conference here External affairs minister announced a number measures for Haj pilgrims including easier passport clearances and automatic inclusion of those applicants in the list who have been applying for three years. He also suggested allowing a companion for those above 70 years of age.
“As part of our efforts to continuously improve Haj management, it has been decided to allocate confirmed seats to all the intending pilgrims over 70 years of age along with a companion, with effect from this year,” the minister said.
Krishan also informed that he personally requested Saudi authorities to increase Haj quota for Indian pilgrims.”During my visit to Jeddah for the conclusion of the Bilateral Haj Agreement with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 26, 2011, I personally handed over the request for additional seats to the Saudi minister for Haj,” Krishna said.
Speaking on the occasion the chairperson of the Haj committee Mrs Mohsina Qidwai said that nobody in Saudi Arabia listen to the suggestions of Haj committee, yet people anger burst only on the committee for inefficiencies. She said that there were many shortcoming in the system which need to be rectified soon.
Giving details of the preparation of this year Haj event, the Indian Consulate General in Saudi Arabia, Faiz Ahmad Qidwai said that due to a large number of buildings around Ka’bah have been demolished it has been difficult to get accommodation around the holy shrine. He said that mission will soon start booking accommodations for pilgrims in Aziziya, some seven kilometre from Haram Sharif.
The chief executive officer of the Haj committee of India Dr Sheikh Shakir Hussain also gave details of the preparations of the Haj 2011. The conference was attended by heads of state Haj committees, MPs, representatives of NGOs and representatives from Saudi Arabia embassy.