In Syria, Iran, and Iraq, nearly 40,000 pilgrims went missing: minister
Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, disclosed on Wednesday that approximately 40,000 pilgrims from Pakistan who visited Iran, Iraq, and Syria have either stayed there or vanished entirely, with no official record of their whereabouts.
Speaking at a press conference, the minister said that because of the gravity of the problem, the old “Salar system,” which relied on group leaders, has been eliminated and replaced with a new, structured, computerized system that will stop similar incidents from happening again.
He clarified that only registered businesses that fulfill formal requirements will now be permitted to plan pilgrimage tours and will receive certificates from Ziyarat Group Organisers. The purpose of this action is to guarantee pilgrims’ safety and make travel plans more transparent.
The minister went on to say that Pakistan has received formal concerns from Iran, Iraq, and Syria regarding the disappearance of numerous Pakistani pilgrims.
In order to ensure that accurate records are kept and appropriate oversight is feasible, the ministry has responded by deciding that pilgrims will only be permitted to travel in the future through approved, registered tour operators.
