Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday requested the government of Iraq to issue entry visas to Pakistanis visiting shrines in the country for free besides doubling the quota of Pakistani devotees, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to Iraq’s ambassador in Pakistan Hamid Abbas Lafta, who called on him at the Interior Ministry’s building, Naqvi, with Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain sitting beside him, said that every year millions of Pakistanis visited Iraq to pay their respects at the shrines of holy personalities. “However, they face lots of difficulties during the months of Muharram and Safar,” he told Lafta.

He said it was the government’s desire to provide all possible facilities to devotees.

The minister also requested the envoy to ask the Iraqi government not to collect passports from Pakistanis at the time of their entry in the country since they faced difficulties while they were returning home.

On behalf of the government of Iraq, Lafta assured Naqvi that best possible facilities would be provided to Pakistani devotees.

The ambassador, on the occasion, also handed to the minister a list of those travel agents who charged excessive rates from the Pakistanis.

Naqvi assured that action would be taken against these individuals within one week.

A consensus was also reached at the meeting that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would soon be signed between the Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis and Iraq’s Labour Ministry which would facilitate the Pakistanis in getting work permits.    

Reporter: Awais Kiani