Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf has revealed that 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims have gone missing in Iraq, Syria and Iran.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad on Wednesday, the minister said that in the absence of a centralised and complete database, it was difficult for the government to trace the whereabouts of each missing individual.

The situation has raised concerns not only in Pakistan but also among the governments of Iraq, Syria, and Iran, who have formally approached Pakistani authorities over the issue, the minister added.

Yousaf emphasised that, like making arrangements for Hajj and Umrah, the ministry is also responsible for managing pilgrimage visits (Ziarat) to these countries.

The minister said the government was implementing a new system aimed at preventing such disappearances in the future.

He said under the new framework, pilgrims will only be allowed to travel through registered and authorised group operators.

This measure, the minister said, is essential to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and to maintain official oversight.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also directed all pilgrimage group operators to submit their applications by July 31, 2025, for verification of their registration and to renew their licences.

Sardar Yousaf expressed hope that the new system would significantly reduce the number of missing persons and help restore Pakistan’s reputation on the international stage.