Islamabad: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, has pledged to enhance facilities for Pakistani pilgrims traveling to Iraq. In a meeting with the Pakistani Ambassador to Iraq, Muhammad Zeeshan Ahmed, several initiatives were discussed to improve the pilgrimage experience.
According to Press Information Department, the discussion centered around the Pilgrim Management Policy approved by the federal cabinet in April 2021, which focuses on maximizing facilities for Pakistani pilgrims. A draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Iraqi Government has been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hussain emphasized the importance of finalizing the MoU swiftly to ensure comprehensive support for pilgrims.
Furthermore, Hussain instructed the immediate establishment of Pakistan House in Karbala and the Directorate of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The Pakistani ambassador proposed an increase in community welfare attaches in Iraq to better support the needs of the Pakistani community abroad.