Islamabad: The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has categorically denied recent media reports alleging that Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain stated 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims had gone missing in Iraq. The ministry emphasized that these claims are completely unfounded and incorrect.
According to Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development announcement issued on 10 August 2024, there has been a misunderstanding in the media regarding comments supposedly made by Minister Hussain in a Senate committee meeting. The ministry clarified that he never mentioned any disappearance of Pakistani pilgrims. Additionally, the statement highlighted that Pakistani pilgrims typically organize their travels to Iraq through private tour operators and that the government is actively working to enhance the facilitation process for such pilgrimages.