The minority rights bill is returned by the president.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony recommended a number of changes to the Zaireen policy on Friday, calling for better facilitation for official religious delegations and pilgrims as well as more robust institutional arrangements.

Additional Secretary Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chauhan gave a briefing on the steps taken in response to earlier recommendations at the start of the committee’s seventh meeting, which was presided over by MNA Shagufta Jumani at Parliament House.

Members expressed discontent with the current arrangements when discussing plans for the yearly visit of the high-level official delegation to Roza-e-Rasool (Peace Be Upon Him). In order to represent Pakistan’s dignity, the committee suggested that its members be given “state guest” status and emphasized that the delegation must arrive on time on the 12th of Rabiul Awwal.

In order to obtain an official invitation for the visit, the ministry was advised to work with the Saudi government. Additionally, a subcommittee was established to examine and revise the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that now govern the delegation.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Kesoo Mal Khael Das provided information on the National Commission for Minorities Rights measure, 2025, which was introduced by MNA Naveed Amir Jeeva. The measure was passed by both Houses, but the president did not sign it. He promised that a joint session of parliament will hear the presentation. The committee passed the bill after being satisfied with the promise.

The group also discussed the Zaireen Policy in detail and urged the government to provide all-inclusive facilities for religious visitors in Pakistan and overseas. In order to educate Zaireen about travel, safety, and protocol, Chairperson Jumani stressed the importance of keeping the old Salaar system in place to guide pilgrims and suggested awareness campaigns via print, electronic, and social media.

The committee also instructed the government to offer a package of subsidies for Zaire, which would include a $50 cost reduction, akin to that of Hajj assistance. In order to help the thousands of pilgrims who travel to Iraq each year, it also pushed for talks with PIA to start direct flights from Karachi to Najaf.

Other suggestions included rehabilitating Pakistan Houses in Makkah and Madinah for respectable pilgrim lodging, setting up permanent facilitation desks at all major airports, and involving several businesses in open procedures for service delivery rather than giving contracts to one organization.

Along with Minister of State Kesoo Mal Khael Das, the secretary, and senior ministry officials, MNAs Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jilani, Seema Mohi ud Din Jameeli, Asiya Naz Tanoli, Dr. Nelson Azeem, Samina Khalid Ghurki, Ahmed Saleem Siddiqui, Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Muneeba Iqbal, and Neelam attended the meeting.