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Pakistani pilgrims can be barred from travelling by highway to Iran and Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage because of public and nationwide safety, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated on Sunday.
Pilgrims go to Iraq to attend the chehlum commemoration — also referred to as Arbaeen (40 in Arabic) — to mark the fortieth day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [the] Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that zaireen (pilgrims) will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year,” Naqvi stated on X.
He added that the “difficult decision was taken in the interest of public safety and national security”.
However, the pilgrims will have the ability to journey by air, the minister famous.
Naqvi pressured that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to “arrange maximum flights to facilitate their pilgrimage in the coming days”.
Naqvi’s assertion got here after he met with PM Shehbaz earlier right this moment to temporary him on the brand new coverage for pilgrims, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
The premier additionally directed Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif to rearrange “special flights” for the pilgrims, APP said, citing a press launch from the PM Office.
Iraq’s Karbala, the place Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas are buried in two monumental mausoleums dealing with one another, is the centre of the Shia world throughout this time. More than 21 million devotees took half within the pilgrimage final yr.
Pakistan is ready to introduce a brand new journey administration system from Jan 1, 2026, below which pilgrims will solely be allowed to undertake the journey below registered organisers.
Under the brand new measures, the normal Salar System can be abolished and changed with a Zaireen Group Organisers mannequin. Alongside weekly flights to Iran being elevated from six to fifteen, 107 further particular flights may also be organized for pilgrims heading to Iraq.
Earlier this month, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf retracted his assertion that 40,000 pilgrims had not returned from journeys to Iran and Iraq. He clarified {that a} “misunderstanding” of outdated paper information that had not but been totally digitised resulted within the assertion.
PM tells Naqvi to start out work on Gwadar Safe City undertaking
During their assembly, PM Shehbaz and Naqvi additionally mentioned the regulation and order scenario in Balochistan, with the premier telling the minister to provoke work on the Gwadar Safe City undertaking.
The delay in the project had been highlighted by Senator Quratulain Marri in May as she chaired a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.
Senator Marri had sought a report on a critical discrepancy — the Gwadar Development Authority officials blamed a lack of funds for the project delays, while the Finance Division said it had received no funding demand from the Balochistan government.
On July 11, a representative of the Balochistan government told a high-level government meeting that 30 per cent of the undertaking was full, with full completion anticipated by June 2026.
With the preliminary plan ready in 2016, the primary part of the Gwadar Safe City undertaking had been authorized by the Central Development Working Party in February 2023 for Rs4.97bn.
PIA announces special flights for pilgrims
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced to operate special flights for billions of pilgrims. according to the airline’s spokesperson.
Four flights will depart from Karachi from August 8 to 11, the announcement said.
Flights for pilgrims returning from Najaf have been scheduled from August 18 to 21.
Ticket sales have started for all flights, the statement added.
“More flights will also be scheduled based on market demand,” the spokesperson said.
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