To serve pilgrims of Imam Hussein, intensive discussions on waiver of visa fees between Iraq and Pakistan

The Pakistani daily newspaper “Dawn” said in a special report, that the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Aviation, retired Marshal “Farhat Hussain Khan”, discussed on Monday, January 15, with the Ambassador of Iraq to Islamabad, “Hamid Abbas Lafta”, the issue of waiving visa fees for visitors to the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf during the Ashura and Arba’een pilgrimage.

The newspaper said in its report, viewd by “Shia Waves Agency, that “a press release issued by the Pakistani Ministry of Aviation, indicated that the two sides exchanged views on bilateral issues of common interest,” adding that “the advisor expressed Pakistan’s commitment to continue to enhance the process of approving additional bilateral flights during the month of Muharram through mutual discussions.”

The report quoted Mr. Khan as confirming his country’s interest in dealing with Iraq to grant the rights of the “Fifth Avaition Privilege” to Pakistani airlines, which are special rights to obtain additional privileges for their flights to and from Iraq, stressing on the mutual benefits aimed at enhancing air connectivity to enhance the potential for increasing trade and tourism between the two countries.

The newspaper quoted the Ambassador of Iraq as renewing his government’s commitment to grant “Fifth Aviation Privilege” to Pakistani airlines, pointing out in conclusion of the report that nearly (300,000) Pakistani citizens visit the holy shrines in Iraq annually.