Iraq Implements Measures to Facilitate Arba’een Pilgrimage
The Najaf Provincial Council has announced a week-long public holiday for all government departments, excluding security and service sectors, to allow residents to participate in the Arba’een rituals and support the influx of domestic and international pilgrims. Similarly, the Karbala provincial governor, Nassif Jassim al-Khattabi, has declared a public holiday in Karbala, aiming to ease congestion and improve services for the event.
To address the challenges at border crossings, Iraq’s Ministry of Interior has issued a new directive to facilitate the entry of foreign pilgrims. The decision standardizes visa fees and includes a $5 electronic service charge. This move is part of a broader effort by the Iraqi government to expand infrastructure and enhance services. According to a report by ISNA, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, has been directly supervising the plans for the pilgrimage, which includes the allocation of 1,000 buses for pilgrim transport.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials are working in close coordination with their Iraqi counterparts to manage the high volume of traffic at the border. The head of Iran’s Arba’een Central Committee has urged pilgrims to plan their return trips to avoid congestion on the main day of Arba’een. The Iraqi government has also opened additional border crossings and checkpoints to facilitate the movement of pilgrims, and security has been heightened to ensure the safety of all participants.
The cabinet has also approved direct contracts with private companies for pilgrim transportation, with financial support from the Ministry of Finance. To ensure oversight, committees from the Prime Minister’s office have been formed to monitor service quality. The next cabinet meeting was also moved from Tuesday to Sunday, August 10, to accelerate service provision.
Beyond government efforts, air travel is being bolstered. From August 6 to August 16, 18 direct round-trip flights will operate between Shiraz Airport in Iran and Najaf Airport in Iraq. Tickets for these flights are priced at a fixed rate of 7.5 million tomans for both adults and children to ensure accessibility.
The Iraq Media and Communications Commission has launched a special media plan for Arba’een in Karbala. The plan focuses on supporting journalists, enhancing communication, and providing technical coordination for comprehensive event coverage. The commission emphasized the important role of female journalists, drawing inspiration from Lady Zainab (peace be upon her), and highlighted the need to globally showcase the magnitude of the pilgrimage.
Pilgrims from the Salma region of Muthanna province are also undertaking a challenging desert trek to Karbala. This arduous route near the Saudi border is notable for its lack of service stations, water, or greenery. Images show the perseverance of these pilgrims, who, despite the severe heat, continue their journey to demonstrate their devotion to Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).
The Baghdad Operations Command has opened the Fadhiliya Bridge to facilitate the movement of Arba’een pilgrims to the holy city of Karbala. The bridge is located in the Jurf al-Nasr area, situated between Baghdad and Karbala.
The opening of the bridge, which is accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, is intended to alleviate traffic congestion on the main roads and streamline the flow of pilgrims. This effort is part of a broader initiative to prepare roads and ensure the security of pilgrims throughout the Arba’een commemoration.
