ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Tuesday said the government would take all measures to provide maximum facilities to pilgrims travelling to holy sites in Iraq.

He was meeting Pakistani Ambassador to Iraq Mohammad Zeeshan Ahmed who called on him.

Federal Religious Affairs Minister Chaudhary Salik said the Pilgrim Management Policy was approved by the federal cabinet in April 2021, with the primary objective of providing maximum facilities to Pakistani pilgrims.

A draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Iraqi Government has been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr Salik said the MoU should be finalised as soon as possible to ensure that Pakistani pilgrims receive maximum facilities in Iraq.

He also instructed prompt establishment of the Pakistan House in Karbala and the Directorate of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The ambassador suggested that Pakistani community welfare attaches in Iraq be increased.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2024