Pakistani man aims to plant 50,000 TREES between Najaf and Kerbala

A senior Pakistani citizen has sent thousands of saplings to Iraq to provide shade for Arbaeen pilgrims.

According to the Reuters, Mohammedi Durbar, 85, wants to plant nearly 50,000 trees along the entire 80-km (50-mile) pilgrimage route between Iraq’s Shia Muslim holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala.

Durbar travelled to Iraq, spoke to officials and got permission for his project, and a promise the trees would be cared for. He also planted some trees in Najaf to see if they could thrive there.

The test was a success. “The trees are happy,” he said.

A first batch of 9,800 saplings of eight types of trees, up to eight months old, set off from Karachi by truck on Friday, for their journey across Iran to Iraq.

Durbar says the saplings will be well looked after on their journey with the truck stopping to ensure they get regular sunshine and water.

The trees will spend the winter in a nursery in Baghdad, with the planting due to begin in March.

Durbar estimates it will take three years to plant all of the trees at a cost of 25 million rupees ($160,000), which he is paying.

He is not sure if he will live to see pilgrims walking under his trees, but he knows he has found his calling after a lifetime in industry.

“I thank God, at this age, he has put me on the right path,” he said.

“Partnership with nature is good.”

Arbaeen is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world and comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussain (AS).

Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussain (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.

-Pakistani