Latest news with #Arbaeen
Arab News
7 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Pakistan, Iran agree to increase number of flights for pilgrims
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and keep their shared border open round the clock during Muharram and Arbaeen, state news agency APP reported on Wednesday. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran on Wednesday, where both countries made several important decisions to facilitate pilgrims and improve border cooperation. While there is no precise official count, approximately 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims visit Iran annually for religious purposes, particularly for Arbaeen, a significant religious observance in Shia Islam, marking the 40th day after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), at the Battle of Karbala. Arbaeen is also the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain. 'The two ministers agreed that the Pakistan-Iran border will remain open 24 hours a day during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate religious pilgrims,' APP reported. 'Both sides also agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and discussed sending pilgrims by sea.' The Iranian government will also provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad, the city most famous and revered for housing the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the Imam Reza shrine and pay their tributes. 'To solve issues quickly, a hotline will be set up between the two countries. A special three-nation meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq will be held in Mashhad before Arbaeen to plan better arrangements for pilgrims,' APP added. Significant pilgrimages occur in Iran, especially at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom, and the Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz. These shrines are dedicated to revered figures in Shia Islam and are major pilgrimage destinations for Shia Muslims, including from Pakistan.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Iran border to stay open 24/7 during Muharram, Arbaeen
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is determined to give tough time to BCCI and India for treating Pak Cricket unfairly. PHOTO: AFP Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran on Wednesday where both the countries made several important decisions to help pilgrims and improve border cooperation. The two ministers agreed that the Pakistan-Iran border will remain open 24 hours a day during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate religious pilgrims. The Iranian government will also provide accommodation and meals in Mashhad for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims. To solve issues quickly, a hotline will be set up between the two countries. A special three-nation meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq will be held in Mashhad before Arbaeen to plan better arrangements for pilgrims. Both sides also agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and discussed sending pilgrims by sea. They also talked about working together to stop illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. Improving border security and cooperation between the two countries was also discussed. Mohsin Naqvi thanked the Iranian government for supporting Pakistani pilgrims and assured full cooperation regarding the release of Iranian fishermen who accidentally entered Pakistani waters. Senior officials from both countries were present at the meeting.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan-Iran border to remain open 24 hours during Muharram
Listen to article Pakistan and Iran have agreed to strengthen border cooperation and significantly enhance facilities for religious pilgrims ahead of the Islamic months of Muharram and Arbaeen, according to APP. The decisions were made during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran on Wednesday. Senior officials from both countries were also present. As part of the new understanding, the Pakistan-Iran border will remain open 24 hours a day during Muharram and Arbaeen to ensure smooth movement for pilgrims. The Iranian government will provide accommodation and meals in Mashhad for up to 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims. A hotline will also be established between the two countries to resolve cross-border issues swiftly. In a key development, the ministers agreed to convene a trilateral meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq in Mashhad prior to Arbaeen. The meeting aims to improve logistical and administrative arrangements for pilgrims making the religious journey. The two sides also discussed increasing the number of flights for pilgrims and explored the possibility of sea travel to ease transit. Cooperation on curbing illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling was also addressed. Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of stronger coordination between border forces to enhance regional security. Naqvi expressed gratitude to Iran for its continued support to Pakistani pilgrims and assured cooperation regarding the release of Iranian fishermen who inadvertently crossed into Pakistani waters.
Shafaq News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iranian Minister in Baghdad for key rail link
Shafaq News/ Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, arrived in Iraq on Sunday to push forward key transport and infrastructure projects, with the Shalamcheh-Basra railway topping the agenda. Welcomed by Iraq's Deputy Transport Minister Hazem Radi and Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadegh, Sadegh is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Transport Minister Razzaq Muhaibis al-Saadawi, and Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari. Talks will reportedly center on the 32-kilometer rail link connecting religious hubs in both countries, intended to serve more than 3 million pilgrims annually in its initial phase. Valued at $150 million, the project is seen as a catalyst for religious tourism and trade. Key challenges include clearing 16 kilometers of mine-contaminated land, constructing an 880-meter movable bridge over the Arvand River (Shatt al-Arab), and upgrading the Shalamcheh border crossing. Officials are also expected to finalize logistics for the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world's largest religious gatherings. Discussions will focus on streamlining border controls and expanding facilities to accommodate the surge in Iranian pilgrims.
Shafaq News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Erbil-Tehran axis: Iran pushes for stronger ties with Kurdistan
Shafaq News/ Iran is seeking to deepen economic and logistical ties with Iraq's Kurdistan Region, prioritizing its border province of West Azerbaijan as a trade and transit hub, officials said on Friday during a high-level visit to Erbil. In talks with Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, Rahmani expressed hopes that the visit would mark "a new phase" in bilateral ties, emphasizing West Azerbaijan's strategic location bordering Turkiye, Iraq, and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 'This province has become a regional focal point for trade and transit.' At the center of Rahmani's pitch is the Maku Free Trade and Industrial Zone, which exported over $234 million worth of goods and services in the Iranian calendar year 1401 (March 2022–March 2023). The bulk—more than $223 million—was in services, with goods accounting for nearly $11 million, according to Iranian trade data. However, the growth narrative is not without caveats. Rahmani acknowledged persistent logistical bottlenecks at border crossings, where delays in truck movement remain a major obstacle. 'We need to activate existing agreements and remove procedural hurdles,' he emphasized, referencing bilateral MoUs that have yet to be fully implemented. The Kalashin crossing, a key trade corridor connecting West Azerbaijan to Erbil province, remains closed pending administrative approval, and its reactivation is expected to ease pressure on other crossings and facilitate smoother trade flows. No decisions have yet been announced regarding the full reopening of Haji Omaran or Parwezkhan crossings. While Bashmakh resumed operations in late 2023, the pace of normalization remains uneven. Rahmani also praised the Kurdistan Region's role in facilitating the Arbaeen pilgrimage, calling it a 'spiritual cornerstone' requiring high-level coordination. In 2024, around 70,000 Iranian pilgrims used the Haji Omaran route, with over 50,000 returning the same way. Both governors closed the meeting with pledges to deepen cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and tourism. With sanctions isolating parts of Iran's economy, Tehran sees border provinces like West Azerbaijan not just as gateways for trade, but as pressure valves for domestic economic relief and tools of soft diplomacy in a volatile region.
