Pakistan allows Iraq's national airline for additional flights to accommodate pilgrims
Responding to Iraq's request, Pakistan has
approved the operation of supplementary flights by Iraq's national carrier to
facilitate pilgrims during the Arbaeen event, as announced by Pakistan's
Minister of Aviation in an official statement.
Arbaeen, a significant annual religious
gathering, draws millions of Shia Muslims from around the world to Karbala to
commemorate the conclusion of the 40-day mourning period for the martyrdom of
Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) grandson. Each year, thousands of Pakistani pilgrims
also participate in the Arbaeen festival in Iraq, observed during the Islamic
month of Safar.
Iraq's Ambassador to Pakistan, Hamid Abbas
Lafta, met with Air Marshal (retired) Farhat Hussain Khan, the advisor to the
Pakistani Prime Minister on aviation, to discuss the forthcoming religious
occasion, according to the aviation ministry.
The statement indicated that the Iraqi side had
requested additional flights by Iraqi Airways to accommodate
"Zaireen" (pilgrims) during Arbaeen, a plea which Pakistan has
approved. The two nations also agreed to further enhance collaboration within
the aviation sector.
During the meeting, discussions encompassed the
bilateral relations between Iraq and Pakistan, as highlighted by the aviation
ministry. The two countries share an amicable relationship rooted in shared
religious and cultural ties.
Pakistan-Iraq relations have been reinforced through several exchanges at the ministerial level in recent years. In a recent development, former interior minister Rana Sanaullah visited Iraq earlier this month, resulting in the Iraqi government raising the quota of Pakistani Arbaeen pilgrims from 50,000 to 100,000.
Source: https://www.arabnews.pk/