Islamabad: The Ministry of Religious Affairs has released a list of 113 certified Umrah companies on its official website to protect intending pilgrims from fraud. The ministry advised pilgrims to check the credentials of travel agencies before booking their tickets to Saudi Arabia.
Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Makkah and Madinah every month to perform Umrah, a voluntary pilgrimage that is shorter than Hajj. To ensure safe and hassle-free travel, the ministry issues a list of authorized Umrah operators each year.
“Pilgrims must verify the company from the ministry’s website before booking,” the ministry said in a statement. “Payments should be made only through bank accounts of the authorized companies.”
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This announcement came just days after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a woman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for allegedly running a multi-million-rupee scam involving fake Hajj and Umrah packages. She had been wanted in two cases registered in 2017 and 2018.
The ministry further urged pilgrims to get a copy of the payment receipt and agreement from the company. It also advised booking complete packages, including visas, air tickets, transportation, and accommodation, only through certified Umrah companies
