Islamabad:
The Minister of Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, said Thursday that the Law of Hajj and Umrah (regulation) of 2024 recently approved would apply strictly to ensure that no one curses the sacred pilgrimage badly, including the sending of beggars under the appearance of pilgrims.
Going to the ceremony prior to the launch of the third exhibition of Pakistan and Umrah 2025, the minister recalled that in the past some people had used religious trips when resorting to begging in Saudi Arabia, which tarnished the country’s reputation. “This will no longer be tolerated,” he said.
Yousaf emphasized that pilgrims serve as Pakistan ambassadors and must strictly observe Saudi laws while fulfilling their religious duties. “Hajj is both an act of physical and financial cult, not a recreational or business trip,” he said.
Reflecting on his 2013-2018 mandate, the minister said that important reforms were introduced, including the abolition of multiple Hajj categories in favor of a single transparent scheme, which helped address numerous complaints. He added that five Hajj operations were carried out successfully under their leadership.
The minister said that in line with the Islamic financial principles, the Ministry had previously decided to deposit the funds of the pilgrims in an account compatible with the Sharia after consulting the renowned academic Maulana Taqi Usmani.
He said that the federal cabinet had already approved the Hajj 2026 policy, assigning 70 percent fee to the government’s scheme and 30 percent to the private scheme.
