Only 261 Ziarat Group Organisers Registered in Pakistan, NA Committee Seeks Cut in Rs 1 Million Deposit
Only 261 Ziarat group organisers had registration by 12 November 2026, though 922 passed security clearance. An NA committee wants the Rs 1 million deposit cut.
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Short answer: Only 261 Ziarat group organisers (ZGOs) had received registration certificates from the Ministry of Religious Affairs by 12 November 2026, although 922 companies had passed Interior Ministry security clearance. A National Assembly committee asked the ministry to speed this up and to cut the Rs 1 million security deposit each organiser must pay.
The NA Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony met in Islamabad on 12 November, with Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq MNA as acting chairman. For pilgrims going to Iran and Iraq, the short list matters: only a registered organiser may sell a Ziarat package.
922 companies are cleared but only 261 have a registration certificate
The ministry told the committee that 922 companies had security clearance from the Ministry of Interior. Of these, 282 had been processed for registration and 261 had received certificates. So about 72% of cleared companies are still waiting for the ministry to act.
| Stage | Number of companies |
|---|---|
| Security clearance from the Interior Ministry | 922 |
| Processed for registration by the Religious Affairs Ministry | 282 |
| Registration certificate issued | 261 |
| Cleared but not yet registered | 661 |
The committee asked for faster security clearance and certificates, with a clear timeline for both. It did not set a deadline itself. A committee recommendation is advice to the ministry. It does not change the rules until the ministry acts on it.
On 14 November, the ministry's licensed ZGO portal listed 263 organisers, two more than the committee was told. The list is public and searchable by company name, registration number and city.
The committee wants the Rs 1 million security deposit reduced
Each Ziarat group organiser must lodge a Rs 1 million security deposit. The committee said this is heavy for small operators and the cost reaches pilgrims. It recommended that the ministry review the amount and reduce it.
The deposit is the ministry's guarantee against a company that strands pilgrims or breaks the rules. Under the ministry's Ziarat operating procedures, forfeiting this security is one of the major penalties, alongside cancellation, suspension and blacklisting. No new amount has been proposed yet, so the Rs 1 million rule still applies.
The committee also asked for a copy of the Zaireen Management Policy, the federal policy behind ZGO registration, so it can check the rules and find gaps in how they are applied.
Book Ziarat only with a licensed organiser, and check it first
Pilgrims should book Iran or Iraq Ziarat only through a company on the ministry's licensed ZGO list. Unregistered people may not advertise, sell or arrange Ziarat travel. A short check before paying takes a few minutes.
- Open the licensed ZGO list on zgo.mora.gov.pk.
- Search by the company name or the registration number the agent gave you.
- Match the CEO name, office address and phone number with what the agent told you.
- Check the licence expiry date. Registration lasts three years.
- Pay the company, not a private person, and keep the receipt.
The full method, with what each field on a licence means, is in our walkthrough to check a Ziarat operator's licence. The ministry takes complaints on its WhatsApp number, 0306-3332555.
Recent rules for Iraq and Iran pilgrims still apply
The committee's meeting did not change any travel rule. Pilgrims still need to follow the ministry's recent advisories on routes and family travel, and their organiser should brief them before departure.
- The Al-Sheeb land crossing between Iran and Iraq was closed to Pakistani pilgrims in late October. The details are in our report on the Al-Sheeb border closure.
- The ministry asked pilgrims combining Iran and Iraq to verify every flight between the two countries before leaving, as set out in the air sector advisory.
- Rules for men under 50 travelling to Iraq are covered in the family travel circular.
Hajj money and a blacklisted company were also on the agenda
The committee reviewed how Hajj money is handled, including bank arrangements, profits, losses and audits. It said every Hajj contract must follow the competitive buying rules of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
A sub-committee had examined how Hajj-related companies were selected, after complaints that PPRA rules and Saudi instructions were broken. The full committee endorsed that report and sent it to the ministry. The ministry must also explain why a blacklisted company is still operating. The committee did not name the company.
Other points from the meeting:
- Parliamentary delegations to Saudi Arabia faced visa, hotel and travel problems. The committee asked for clear procedures and better coordination with Saudi authorities.
- The ministry said each minority member of the Assembly received an extra Rs 10 million in development funds after the committee's earlier request to the Prime Minister's Office.
- The committee asked for a meeting between the Prime Minister and minority members, and help from the Foreign Office with visas for visits to holy sites abroad.
- A proposed museum in Islamabad, requested by the Saudi government, and a proposed embassy in Iraq are on the next agenda.
Common questions
How many Ziarat group organisers are registered in Pakistan?
The ministry told the NA committee on 12 November 2026 that 261 had registration certificates. Its public licensed list showed 263 on 14 November.
What is the security deposit for a Ziarat group organiser?
Rs 1 million. The NA committee recommended a review and a reduction, but no new amount has been set.
Can I book Ziarat with an unregistered agent?
You should not. The ministry's procedures bar unregistered people from advertising, selling or arranging Ziarat travel, and the ministry's complaint and penalty system is built around registered organisers.
How long is a ZGO registration valid?
Three years, under the ministry's Ziarat operating procedures.
Where can I complain about a Ziarat company?
The Ministry of Religious Affairs takes complaints on WhatsApp at 0306-3332555, linked from its website.
Did the committee change any rule for pilgrims?
No. Its points are recommendations to the ministry. Current rules, including the deposit, stay in force until the ministry changes them.
How we verified this
What we checked and where we read it.
We checked these facts on 14 November 2026. The meeting details, the 922, 282 and 261 figures, the Rs 1 million deposit and the other agenda points are from the committee's press release of 12 November on the National Assembly website. The count of 263 licensed organisers is from the ministry's licensed ZGO list, read the same day. The WhatsApp complaint number is linked from mora.gov.pk. The three year validity and the penalty list are from the ministry's Ziarat operating procedures, read for our licence check walkthrough. The committee's count (261) and the portal's count (263) differ by two.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
