50,000 Pakistani pilgrims disappear in Iraq

Islamabad: It has been revealed in the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee that 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims have gone to Iraq and disappeared.

According to the media report, 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.

The Standing Committee was informed that a new policy has been formulated regarding pilgrimages in various countries which has been sent to the Cabinet for approval.

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.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain revealed in the committee meeting that around 50,000 Pakistanis have gone to Iraq and disappeared. But the tour operators also charge 80 to 90 dollars for the visa fee from the visitors.

Additional Secretary Religious Affairs told the Standing Committee that the Iraqi government says that pilgrims come to our country in the form of groups. A few days ago, ‘I met the ambassador of Iraq and he said that the Iraqi government issues free visas for pilgrimages,’ but tour operators also charge visa fees of 80 to 90 dollars from pilgrims.

Additional Secretary Religious Affairs told the Standing Committee that the Iraqi government says that pilgrims come to our country in the form of groups. They have their authority and salar system on the Iraq border.

The Standing Committee was informed that a new policy has been formulated regarding pilgrimages in various countries which has been sent to the Cabinet for approval.

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.

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 problems 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 stated 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 taken up 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.