Interior Minister Naqvi, Iraqi envoy agree on steps to facilitate pilgrims visiting holy sites
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A great facility for the people visiting holy sites in Iraq from Pakistan as the former on Wednesday agreed not to take passports from those travelling to the country on airplanes on entry, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi and Iraq’s ambassador in Pakistan Hamid Abbas Lafta in Islamabad.
It was also decided that Iraq’s embassy, and not travel agents, would issue visas to those intending to visit the country on the occasion of ‘Arbaeen’.
Besides that, they both reached an agreement to increase the quota of Pakistanis travelling to Iraq for the occasion besides operating special flights for them.
It was decided that more visas would be issued this year compared with last year.
Naqvi and Lafta also agreed to remove all obstacles in the way of reopening Iraq’s consulate in Karachi in order to further facilitate the devotees, and that, too, today.
The interior minister, on the occasion, assured the envoy that his ministry would provide all possible support in this regard.
He said he would talk to his Iraqi counterpart to waive the visa fee for the Pakistanis on the occasion of Arbaeen.
The return of Pakistani prisoners from Iraq also came under discussion at the meeting.
The minister vowed to take tough action against the travel agents charging excessive fees from the devotees.
He, on the occasion, also thanked the Iraqi government for taking steps for the security of Pakistanis.
The Iraqi envoy assured the minister that his government would ensure that Pakistanis were treated at par with the citizens of other countries.
During the meeting, Naqvi contacted the Federal Minister for Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif and requested him to allow the Iraqi airways to operate special flights from today to which Asif agreed.
The decision was also taken that the PIA would also operate special flights to Iraq for which the schedule would be announced tomorrow.
Reporter: Awais Kiyani