Islamabad:
Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said on Thursday that the newly approved Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Law 2024 were strictly enforced to ensure that no one abuses the sacred pilgrimage, including sending beggars in the form of pilgrims.
By tackling the third Pakistan Hajj and Umrah Exhibition 2025, the Minister in the past recalled that some individuals had abused religious journeys by begging in Saudi Arabia, as spotted the country’s reputation. “This is no longer tolerated,” he claimed.
Yousaf emphasized that pilgrims act as ambassadors for Pakistan and must strictly observe Saudi laws while performing their religious duties. “Hajj is both a physical and financial worship, not a recreational or business trip,” he noted.
When he reflected on his term of office 2013-2018, the minister said major reforms were introduced, including the abolition of several Hajj categories in favor of a single transparent scheme, which helped tackle several complaints. He added that five Hajj operations were successfully performed under his management.
In accordance with Islamic Economic Principles, the Minister said that the ministry had previously decided to deposit Pilgrim’s funds into a Sharia-Compatible account after hearing the acclaimed scholar Maulana Taqi Usmani.
He said the federal cabinet had already approved Hajj 2026 policy and awarded 70 percent quota to the government scheme and 30 percent to the private scheme.
