Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain has revealed in the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee that 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims visited Iraq and disappeared.
The meeting of the Standing Committee of the Senate on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony was held at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of the Committee Chairman, Senator Atta-ur-Rehman.
“Around 50,000 Pakistanis went missing in Iraq. The Iraqi government issues free visas for pilgrims, but tour operators charge $80-90,” said Salik Hussain.
The Standing Committee was informed that a new policy has been prepared regarding pilgrimages in various countries which has been sent to the Cabinet for approval.
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During the briefing, the committee was told that pilgrims going to Iran, Iraq and Syria are monitored in groups in Taftan and pilgrims are sent in 136 groups for pilgrimage.
Additional Secretary Religious Affairs informed the Standing Committee that the Iraqi government says that pilgrims arrived in our country in groups.
In the meeting of the Standing Committee, the working procedures and performance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony were reviewed, as well as the arrangements made for Hajj 2024.
50,000 pilgrims disappeared in Iraq!
From Iraq, they will go Turkey; an
then they will try to enter in EU (Greece etc).Wish them best of luck
— Economist (@WaqarEY) July 25, 2024
The complaints made by the pilgrims regarding accommodation, transport, food, and health and the steps taken by the ministry to solve them were also reviewed in detail in the meeting.
In the standing committee meeting, the difficulties faced by pilgrims at Taftan border were also examined in detail where Senator Raja Nasir Abbas said that pilgrims have to wait for many days in Taftan, basic facilities are non-existent and edibles are very expensive and of poor quality.
Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik maintained that some issues are also with the provincial governments, bringing them together will bring significant improvement.
To which the Chairman Committee Senator Atta-ur-Rehman said that this matter should be discussed with the provincial government and the chief secretary and some members of the committee should also meet them and prepare a report.
Secretary Religious Affairs Zulfiqar Haider told the committee that Iran and Iraq are building a directorate on the pattern of Hajj directorate for pilgrims.
The Pakistan House project was dropped from the PSDP, the land for it had to be given by the Balochistan government as it is difficult to accommodate 5,000 pilgrims in Quetta.
