ISLAMABAD – UNS : The Ministry of Religious Affairs has formally notified a comprehensive set of reforms to Pakistan’s Umrah management system, making it mandatory for all Umrah services to be provided exclusively through companies certified by the ministry.
Issued under the Hajj and Umrah Act, 2024, the notification places all Umrah-related operations under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The new framework is intended to strengthen regulatory oversight, ensure transparency, protect the rights of pilgrims, and eliminate the role of unauthorized operators.
To oversee the implementation of the reforms, the ministry has constituted a high-level Umrah Policy Committee tasked with drafting and supervising the new national Umrah policy. The committee will be headed by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, and comprises representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Cabinet Division.
Under the revised policy, the ministry will publish and regularly update the official list of licensed Umrah operators on its website. Pilgrims have been strongly advised to make bookings only through approved companies to ensure secure, reliable, and legally protected services.
The notification cautions that those who choose to book through unregistered or unauthorized operators will bear full responsibility for any resulting losses or disputes. The ministry clarified that it will entertain complaints only against officially registered and verified Umrah companies.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has further directed pilgrims to make all payments for Umrah packages through recognized banking channels. Pilgrims are also advised to preserve payment receipts, contracts, booking confirmations, and all related documents, as these may be required for complaint resolution or legal proceedings.
Officials said the reforms are aimed at creating a transparent, accountable, and efficient Umrah system by improving service standards, strengthening regulatory compliance, protecting pilgrims’ interests, and discouraging illegal and unregistered Umrah operators across the country.
