Iran Press/ Asia: An unprecedented surge in religious tourism between Pakistan and Iran was witnessed during the months of Muharram and Safar this Islamic year. Over 75,000 pilgrims visited religious places in the neighboring country owing to the upgraded facilities and security arrangements undertaken at Pakistan House on Taftan Border, Pakistan Today reports.
Based on the documents submitted to the Pakistan Interior Ministry, State Minister for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi, on special directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, ensured the provision of foolproof security to the pilgrims while modern and state-of-the-art facilities have also been installed at Pakistan House.
Also for easing legal formalities at Taftan border, Pakistani State Minister for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi along with Taftan Rifles commandant, visited Taftan border on September 8 and October 24 in 2018.
Fatima Masoumeh shrine in Qom houses the tomb of the sister of the eighth Shia Imam Reza.
In the past, the pilgrims had become victims of terrorist activities that resulted in a prominent decline in number of people travelling to Iran for religious tourism. The issue of pilgrims’ security was promptly taken up by the federal and provincial governments as well as the army simultaneously.
For Pakistani pilgrims the main sites are Mashhad, which hosts the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia imam
Pakistani pilgrims also use the Iranian land for travel to Iraq to participate in the Arbaeen ritual. Every year tens of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims gather in the holy city of Karbala to mark Arbaeen which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad (S), in 680 AD.
Arbaeen ritual, marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS)
In 2018 Tehran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Mehdi Honardoost said the Iranian embassy in Islamabad issued more than 200,000 visas for Pakistani pilgrims who to observed Arbaeen on November.
Pakistani Shiites pilgrims are focused on the shrines of the 12 Shia imams some are in Iran specially the 8th Shia Imam. One of the reason for Pakistanis to travel to Iran is safety and easier access, therefore Mashhad City has become a major center for pilgrimage.
The main sites are Mashhad, which hosts the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia imam, and Qom, which hosts his sister’s tomb, along with smaller tombs of the relatives of the 12 imams in Tehran.
Many tours visit both Iran and Iraq in one trip, while others concentrate solely on Iran.
Although the majority of pilgrims are Shia, many Sunnis come too. This is especially true for India and Pakistan, where the Shia imams are historically revered by many Sunnis as well.
Twenty million pilgrims visit Qom every single year. While the majority are Iranian, they are joined by Muslims from both East and West. 101/205
Read more:
Millions of Arbaeen mourners enter the city of Karbala in Iraq
Martyrdom anniversary of 8th Shia Imam holds in Mashhad, Iran
