Pakistan says working with Iraq on special pilgrimage passports to regularize movement of travelers

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Updated 08 August 2024
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Pakistan says working with Iraq on special pilgrimage passports to regularize movement of travelers

  • Pakistan’s religious affairs minister confirms 20,000-30,000 pilgrims who went to Iraq in last 5-7 years overstayed 
  • Says one option to regularize pilgrims’ movement are special passports that can only be used for pilgrimage 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government is working with Iraqi officials on options to better monitor and regularize the movement of pilgrims, the Pakistani minister of religious affairs said this week, including issuing special passports that could only be used for the purpose of pilgrimage. 

Some of the holiest Muslim sites, particularly for Shi’te Islam, are in Iraq, including the shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala, where thousands of devotees arrive daily from Iraq and around the world. These include the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf, which contains the tomb of Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and one of the four caliphs of the Rashidun Caliphate. Another is the shrine of Imam Husain, the prophet’s grandson, in Karbala, the second holiest site for Shi’te Muslims. The annual Arbaeen pilgrimage to the shrine of Husain is considered the world’s largest public gathering, with millions flocking to Karbala.

Last month, Pakistani pilgrims to Iraq made headlines when Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain was widely reported as saying during a briefing to a Senate committee that there were at least 50,000 cases of Pakistani pilgrims who had traveled to Iraq and gone “missing.”

In an interview to Arab News this week, Hussain clarified that he had not used the word “missing” in the briefing. 

“I never use the word missing [about pilgrims]. They’re not missing,” he said. “They are basically unauthorized people who go for ziaraat [pilgrimage] and then overstay.”

Many people, the minister explained, went on a pilgrimage visa and remained in Iraq in the hopes of finding jobs there or after being misled by travel agents who promised them employment in Europe or other countries:

“Probably up to 30,000 Pakistani might be still there [in Iraq] over five to seven years as a lot of them came back.”

The government was now working on a policy to streamline and monitor the visits of Pakistani pilgrims including through special passports, Hussain said.

“We are already devising a plan with the Iraqi government to regularize and give them legal status who are already there working in different farms, shops, factories, different areas,” the minister said. 

“We’ll be signing an MOU very soon, which would regulate all of these migrations, people who go for the Ziaraat [pilgrimages] so we can better monitor them. There are a few options under consideration. We are thinking of issuing special passports, which would just be just for this journey, for ziarat, and then that passport cannot be used anywhere else.”

HAJJ 2025

Speaking about next year’s Hajj preparations, Hussain said Saudi Arabia had approved a quota for Pakistan of around 180,000 pilgrims for 2025.

“Saudi government side has really upgraded the system of Hajj and Umrah, especially for Hajj, they have made a simple formula that [there is a] first come, first serve basis [policy]: this is the space we have, if you come earlier, you get a good space, if you come late, these are the options we have,” the minister explained. 

To ensure a hassle-free Hajj for next year, all preparations were being made in advance, Chaudhry added. 

“We have told all our private Hajj organizations that they should be prepared themselves well in advance in terms of the accommodation, the transport, the food. All these things should be prepared well in advance so that we can get a good allocation from the Saudi side,” the minister said. 

“We together [with Saudi Hajj ministry and embassy] are re-reorganizing the [religious affairs] ministry when it comes to Hajj.”


Pakistan PM says Hong Kong conglomerate key to introducing advanced tech at Karachi Port

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Pakistan PM says Hong Kong conglomerate key to introducing advanced tech at Karachi Port

  • Hutchison Ports announced in March to invest $1 billion to uplift Pakistan’s port infrastructure
  • The top conglomerate official Eric Ip met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss future plans

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday applauded a Hong Kong-based conglomerate for playing an important role in modernizing Karachi Port by introducing advanced technologies like modern scanners for customs assessments, said an official statement.
The statement was issued after a Hutchison Ports delegation, led by Chief Executive Officer Eric Ip, met Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema to discuss the company’s operations in Pakistan.
Hutchison Ports, a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, has been operating two terminals in Pakistan, contributing over $804 million in government revenues and providing employment to 5,000 individuals.
“Modern technology is being introduced at ports in Pakistan, with Hutchison Ports playing an important role,” the PM Office quoted Sharif as saying. “Hutchison Ports’ services will prove valuable in establishing modern scanners for customs assessment at domestic ports.”
Sharif said the investments made by Hutchison Ports in Pakistan for three decades were “a reflection of confidence in Pakistani economic policies.”
On the occasion, the CEO of Hutchison Ports said the company was taking steps to introduce modern technology at Karachi Port and expressed a desire to invest more in Pakistan in the future.
In March, Hutchison Ports said it planned to invest $1 billion in Pakistan to improve its port infrastructure. Later the same month, Pakistan’s maritime affairs minister and a Hutchison Ports official discussed the “swift execution” of the proposed investment.
Pakistan has been working to boost foreign trade while seeking international partnerships to expand maritime activities.
On Jan. 22, South Korean shipping company HMM launched the India North Europe Express (INX) weekly shipping service in Pakistan, providing the country with direct access to Europe.
Earlier, Dubai-based logistics giant DP World, in collaboration with Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation, launched a feeder service to transport shipping containers from Dubai to Karachi.
Pakistani officials and DP World have also finalized terms for a freight corridor project from Karachi Port to the Pipri Marshalling Yard in southern Pakistan.


Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff

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Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff

  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif applauds the top army commander for his ‘unflinching courage’
  • He says Field Marshal Asim Munir led the armed forces to ‘outstanding victory’ against India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top political leadership on Thursday conferred the baton of field marshal on army chief Syed Asim Munir at a ceremony in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praising him for his “unflinching courage” during the recent military standoff with India.

Munir was elevated to the five-star rank during a federal cabinet meeting earlier this week. The rank of field marshal is the highest military designation in Pakistan and has only been awarded once before to former President Ayub Khan.

“Today we have gathered here to pay our tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, for his admirable leadership, unflinching courage and outstanding service to our motherland as we have just conferred upon him the most prestigious and revered military title of Field Marshal,” the prime minister said during the ceremony.

“His command during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and his resolute courage in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity not only thwarted the nefarious designs of the adversary but rewrote the history of warfare that shall continue to inspire generations to come,” he added.

Sharif credited Munir with leading Pakistan’s armed forces to what he described as an “outstanding victory” against an enemy “caught in its own web of arrogance and hubris.”

Referring to Pakistan’s military retaliation earlier this month after Indian strikes, Sharif said the army responded with speed and precision, pushing the conflict deep into enemy territory.

“In the annals of regional conflict and diplomacy, what transpired during those challenging days will not only be remembered as an outstanding military victory but also as a moral and diplomatic triumph,” Sharif said.

He also highlighted the close coordination between Pakistan’s political and military leadership in confronting the twin challenges of economic instability and foreign-backed terrorism, calling the synergy “unprecedented.”

“Today I join the entire nation in acknowledging the meritorious services of a son of the soil who embodies the finest traditions of the Pakistan Army and whose services shall remain etched in the annals of our national history,” he added.


Pakistan envoy attends event celebrating Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag

Updated 22 May 2025
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Pakistan envoy attends event celebrating Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag

  • Flag features 24,514 human handprints contributed by individuals from over 100 nationalities
  • Pakistani expatriates took the lead and completed the project within a period of one month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, attended an event to commemorate a new Guinness World Record set by the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) by creating the largest UAE flag using human handprints, his office said on Thursday.

PAD is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization established in the 1960s to serve the Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE by promoting social welfare, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting community development among the Pakistani diaspora.

“These are not merely handprints but heart prints, an expression of the community’s love, unity and dedication,” the Pakistan Embassy in the UAE quoted Tirmizi as saying.

“This initiative beautifully aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and stands as a testament to the deep-rooted relationship between the Pakistani community and the UAE.”

This handout photo, taken and released by Pakistan Embassy in UAE on May 22, 2025, shows Pakistan Ambassador to UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi posing for a photograph with UAE flag featuring 24,514 human handprints in Dubai, UAE. (Handout/Pakistan Embassy)

The flag featured 24,514 human handprints contributed by people from over 100 nationalities and was unveiled in the presence of Pakistani and Emirati community members.

The record-breaking project, led by PAD, Emirates Loves Pakistan (ELP), and artist Rubab Zahra, was completed during a month-long campaign that began on Apr. 13 in Al Quoz, Dubai, the statement said.

On the occasion, PAD President Dr. Faisal Ikram expressed gratitude to all the contributors and volunteers.

In this handout photo, taken and released by Pakistan Embassy in UAE on May 22, 2025, officials receiving Guinness World Record for flag featuring 24,514 human handprints in Dubai, UAE. (Handout/Pakistan Embassy)

“This record-breaking effort symbolizes the unity and spirit of cooperation that defines our community and perfectly embodies the essence of the Year of Community 2025,” the embassy quoted him as saying.

Pakistani expatriates in Dubai play a vital role in strengthening ties between Pakistan and the UAE, contributing significantly to the economies of both countries.


Pakistani generals vow to ‘decimate’ militants a day after school bus bombing kills four children

Updated 22 May 2025
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Pakistani generals vow to ‘decimate’ militants a day after school bus bombing kills four children

  • The meeting terms the attack a ‘reprehensible violation’ of international norms due to the deliberate targeting of children
  • Field Marshal Asim Munir describes the people of Pakistan as the military’s ‘greatest strength’ following the India standoff

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top generals on Thursday vowed to “decimate” militant groups operating in its western provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a day after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted a school bus in the Khuzdar district in the southwest, killing four children and two adults.

The military’s pledge follows a sharp escalation in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have launched increasingly coordinated attacks on civilians and security forces. Earlier this year, a BLA assault on a passenger train led to a hostage situation, reflecting the growing scale and sophistication of the insurgency.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused India of backing these groups to destabilize the country, an allegation New Delhi has denied, attributing Pakistan’s security troubles to internal failures.

Thursday’s statement followed a meeting of Pakistan’s top army leadership to review the country’s internal and external security environment. The huddle, chaired by Field Marshal Asim Munir, was the first since a recent military standoff with India, during which both sides exchanged missile and drone attacks.

“The Forum deliberated in depth on the threat posed by India-backed terrorist proxies operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.

“The Forum resolved that Pakistan will never allow its peace to be compromised by externally sponsored terrorism,” it continued. “The Armed Forces, in close synergy with intelligence and law enforcement agencies, will pursue all proxies and facilitators of terrorism with unrelenting resolve. These hostile elements, trained and financed to incite chaos and fear, will be dismantled and decimated with full force of national will and institutional strength.”

The generals condemned the Khuzdar attack as a “reprehensible violation” of international norms, particularly due to the deliberate targeting of children.

They also offered prayers for victims of both the Khuzdar bombing and recent casualties from Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the military campaign launched in response to Indian strikes.

Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan’s strategic stance on national defense, declaring that “no one can coerce Pakistan through the use or threat of force.”

He also praised the professionalism and readiness of the armed forces and lauded the resilience of Pakistani civilians, youth and political leadership during recent hostilities.

“The people of Pakistan are our greatest strength,” he said during the meeting. “We remain committed to their trust and expectations in our shared struggle against any foreign aggression, terrorism and extremism.”


Pakistan seeks World Bank’s technical help to fast track $20 billion development framework

Updated 22 May 2025
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Pakistan seeks World Bank’s technical help to fast track $20 billion development framework

  • The Country Partnership Framework was approved by the World Bank’s executive directors in January
  • It aims to support Pakistan’s development by promoting private sector-led growth, climate resilience

KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday sought the World Bank’s technical assistance to fast track the implementation of the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) discussed between the two sides earlier this year, according to an official statement circulated by the finance ministry.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors endorsed the framework in January, aiming to support Pakistan’s long-term development by building human capital, promoting private sector-led growth and enhancing climate resilience through up to $20 billion in pledged lending over the next decade.

A World Bank delegation led by Managing Director for Operations Anna Bjerde met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad during the day to review the Bank’s financing portfolio and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

“We are focused on ensuring that climate resilience and sustainable development remain at the heart of our economic planning,” Aurangzeb said, according to the statement. “The CPF represents an important opportunity, and we aim to implement it with full coordination across key ministries and stakeholders.”

The finance ministry said Aurangzeb requested the visiting delegation “to provide technical leadership and assistance to streamline processes and ensure a prioritized and focused rollout of the CPF.”

Bjerde praised Pakistan for continuing with difficult economic reforms under challenging circumstances and for aligning its growth with environmental sustainability.

She also reiterated the Bank’s support for initiatives in areas such as taxation, energy and social protection, while emphasizing girls’ education and women’s empowerment as critical to human capital and economic resilience.

Later in the day, the delegation also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to a separate statement circulated by Sharif’s office, the prime minister welcomed the delegation and thanked the World Bank for playing a key role in the country’s development.

“We are grateful to the World Bank for the Country Partnership Framework, under which development investments exceeding $20 billion will be made in Pakistan,” he said.

Bjerde, in turn, commended Pakistan’s macroeconomic performance and recent stabilization efforts, describing the CPF as a “model” for other countries.

The meeting was also attended by federal ministers, advisers, parliamentarians and senior government officials along with World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine.