Interior Ministry holds key meeting to address Arbaeen Pilgrims’ issues

Shiite News: Government officials and a delegation of the Pilgrims Committee attended an important meeting at the Ministry of Interior today to address the concerns of pilgrims traveling to the holy shrine.

The Interior Secretary presided over the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of Interior of Balochistan and Sindh, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Finance and the Secretary of Religious Affairs.

The delegation of the Pilgrims Committee included Allama Syed Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi, MNA Engineer Hameed Hussain, Allama Maqsood Ahmed Domki, Allama Sadiq Jafri, Allama Dr. Shabbir Hassan Maysami and Zahid Ali Akhunzada.

Participants from Sindh and Balochistan attended the meeting via video link. The Interior Secretary promised immediate action to send Hajj pilgrims during the months of Arbaeen and Safar and expressed regret over the delay in resolving the issues during the meeting.

As per the decisions taken during the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact the Iraqi government today to extend Arbaeen visas, a WhatsApp group of focal persons has been set up for coordination during travel and return, and orders will be issued to students at the border to cross the border from Ramdan and Taftan.

Furthermore, an urgent letter will be issued to the Ministry of Defense and the Civil Aviation Authority to issue flight schedules for land pilgrims.

The Pilgrims Committee will provide the Ministry of Interior with a list of pilgrims of on land routes and they will be sent on Arbaeen flights as soon as possible.

To allow more land pilgrims to depart for Arbaeen via air travel, the Ministry of Interior directed the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to immediately announce flight schedules and discounted fares.