Pakistan to Ban Solo Travel by Shia Pilgrims to Iraq Starting January 2026
Pakistan has announced a ban on solo travel by Shia pilgrims to Iraq, effective January 1, 2026, in an effort to prevent visa overstays and illegal migration. The decision was disclosed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi following consultations with officials from Iran and Iraq.
Under the new policy, Pakistani Shia pilgrims, locally known as zaireen, will be required to travel to Iraq only in registered groups supervised by authorized organizers, India Today reported. The organizers will be responsible for ensuring that all pilgrims return to Pakistan, addressing concerns about unauthorized extended stays and illegal work abroad.
Thousands of Pakistani Shia travel annually to Iraq and Iran to visit holy sites, particularly during the Arbaeen pilgrimage to Najaf and Karbala. However, many have reportedly overstayed their visas, with some taking up unauthorized employment and engaging in illegal commercial activities.
The move allegedly aims to curb these issues, which have strained Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with Iraq and Iran. “The people who are overstaying there, the people who have started working there, we need to stop this,” said Naqvi.
Visa misuse and illegal migration by Pakistani nationals are reportedly not limited to Iraq and Iran. Saudi Arabia, a major destination for Pakistani migrants, has expressed similar concerns, deporting thousands of Pakistanis for visa violations and unauthorized activities in recent years. In 2024, Saudi Arabia deported over 9,700 Pakistani beggars in two large operations.
Even in Western countries like Canada, Pakistani nationals, including airline crew members, have been reported to disappear or violate visa terms.
Pakistan’s Shia population, which constitutes about 10-15% of the country’s Muslim population, faces sectarian discrimination and violence. Many undertake pilgrimages to Iraq and Iran for religious reasons and sometimes seek better economic opportunities abroad.
The new group-travel requirement is expected to significantly affect Shia pilgrims’ travel plans and aims to ensure better regulation and monitoring of their movements.
