40,000 Pakistani pilgrims missing from Iraq, Iran and Syria, reveals Minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has made a startling revelation, stating that the government has no record of approximately 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims who traveled to Iraq, Iran, and Syria — and have since gone missing.

According to the minister, these pilgrims vanished without trace after entering the respective countries, and Pakistan has no formal documentation of their whereabouts. The issue was also raised by the governments of Iraq, Iran, and Syria, prompting Pakistan to take corrective measures.

In response, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has introduced a new computerized system to monitor and manage pilgrim travel more effectively. Under the new policy, pilgrims will only be allowed to travel through authorized and registered Ziarat Group Organizers (ZGOs).

So far, over 1,400 companies have submitted applications to register with the ministry as official Ziarat Group Organizers. The move aims to ensure better oversight, reduce undocumented travel, and enhance the safety and accountability of Pakistani citizens undertaking religious visits abroad.

He said the federal cabinet had approved a new system of pilgrims group organizers (ZGOS), following which the ministry issued an advertisement. 585 security companies have been instructed to complete their documents before July 31, completing the online registration process through the ministry’s website.

He added that new applications have also been sought through another advertisement under which companies seeking to work as a shrine group operator ZGO with the ministry could submit applications by August 10.

The Federal Minister said in response to a question that the responsibility of the visitors with Hajj and Umrah is the responsibility of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He said in the past, there was no dedicated system in place to regulate Pakistani pilgrims traveling to Iraq, Iran, and Syria.