Pakistani Religious Leaders Call for Permanent Arbaeen Pilgrim Coordination Body, Reopening of Land Routes

Pakistani Religious Leaders Call for Permanent Arbaeen Pilgrim Coordination Body, Reopening of Land Routes
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As the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage approaches, Pakistani religious figures and experts have called for improved coordination among Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq to facilitate the safe and organized travel of Pakistani pilgrims to Karbala.

They urged the establishment of a permanent “Arbaeen Pilgrims Coordination Headquarters” to manage issues related to visas, border services, transportation, and emergency support. The calls come amid concerns over infrastructure shortages and logistical challenges at border crossings used by pilgrims, particularly the Taftan and Rimdan crossings.

Dr. Saber Abu Maryam, a Karachi University professor, said that the movement of millions of pilgrims is a cultural and religious matter requiring strategic cooperation between the three countries. He proposed measures including digital registration systems, rehabilitation of the Quetta–Taftan railway route, and the introduction of passenger shipping links between Karachi and Chabahar to reduce travel costs.

Meanwhile, Pakistani religious organizations have called for immediate steps ahead of Arbaeen. Sohail Akbar Shirazi, head of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen in Balochistan, urged authorities to reopen land routes and improve security arrangements for pilgrims.

He said restrictions on road access have created financial and psychological difficulties, particularly for low-income pilgrims, and called on Pakistan’s Interior Ministry and security institutions to ensure safe travel and facilitate religious journeys to the holy sites in Iraq.