Pakistan Issues Official List of Approved Umrah Companies for Pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has officially released the verified list of Umrah tour operators for the year 2025–26 (1447 AH). The announcement was made on Friday and comes as part of the government’s efforts to ensure transparency and safety for Pakistani pilgrims.

According to ministry officials, agreements of 53 Umrah companies from across Pakistan have been attested in the first phase of verification. This process has been introduced to protect pilgrims from fraud, scams, and financial losses, which unfortunately have been reported in past years when unregistered operators misled travelers.

The approved Umrah operators belong to major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Before being approved, each company went through a strict scrutiny process where their documents, financial records, and past performance were carefully checked. Only those who fulfilled the government’s set standards and regulations were added to the verified list.

Speaking to the media, Ministry spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt strongly advised all intending pilgrims to book their Umrah packages only through the verified operators. He stressed that this would ensure that pilgrims receive genuine services, safe travel arrangements, and avoid the risk of being exploited by unregistered companies.

The spokesperson further explained that the attested list is valid for one year (1447 AH). He also urged other Umrah companies that are not yet verified to complete their documentation and agreements as soon as possible in order to be included in the next phase of the process.

For the convenience of the public, the complete list of verified Umrah operators has been uploaded to the official website of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, where it can be easily downloaded in PDF format. This allows pilgrims and their families to check the names of approved operators before making any financial commitments.

Earlier this week, on Monday, the Ministry also shared an important update about the Hajj 2026 scheme. It was revealed that the ministry has already received over 114,500 applications from across the country under the Government Hajj Scheme 2026. However, only around 3,500 seats remain available under the allocated quota.

Ministry spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt said that designated banks have been instructed to continue receiving applications until the remaining quota is filled. He urged all those who are planning to apply to visit their nearest nominated bank branches without any delay. He also issued a clear warning that “the process will close immediately once the last 3,500 seats are taken.”

The ministry’s recent announcements reflect its efforts to provide safe, transparent, and reliable services to pilgrims, whether they are performing Hajj or Umrah. By verifying operators and streamlining the application process, the government aims to minimize the chances of fraud and provide pilgrims with a smoother and more trustworthy religious journey.

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