The Pakistani government has officially prohibited road travel for pilgrims heading to Iran and Iraq for Arbaeen, as announced by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi stated on X that after thorough consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Balochistan government, and security agencies, the decision was made to restrict road travel for Zaireen due to public safety and national security concerns.
However, pilgrims will still be allowed to travel by air. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed authorities to increase the number of flights to support pilgrims during the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Additionally, on July 10, 2025, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the acceleration of a 2021 policy reform. The traditional “Salar” system has been discontinued and replaced with a new Ziyarat Group Organizer (ZGO) system.
Pilgrim registration has now been made mandatory, similar to the Hajj and Umrah procedures. A ministry spokesperson confirmed that 585 companies have already completed documentation, while newly interested companies must register by August 10, 2025.
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