Foreign nationals and travelers of neighboring countries through Khorasan Razavi to the border of Shalamcheh for Arbaeen trek is estimated to increase by between 30% and 40% compared to the previous year.

Iran press/Iran news: The head of Khorasan Razavi's Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (BAFIA) Mohammad Taghi Hashemi in a meeting with Afghan businessmen residing in Mashhad to provide services for Arbaeen's pilgrims on Sunday said: "It is estimated that 120,000 pilgrims from neighboring countries or foreign nationals residing in Khorasan Razavi province will attend Arbaeen trek."

Mohammad Taghi Hashemi added: "50,000 Afghan and 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims are expected to travel to Khorasan Razavi for attending Arbaeen pilgrimage, as well as 20,000 Afghan, Pakistani, Iraqi and other nationalities who reside in Khorasan province."  

He stressed that all officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have made every effort to provide desirable services along the route to the Iraqi border and from the Iranian border to Karbala, and hoped Afghan activists and businessmen would assist in providing these services.

The head of Khorasan Razavi's (BAFIA) went on to add that 11 Hosseiniehs and cultural centers with a capacity of 23,000 people and a sports hall with a capacity for 3,000 are provided for accommodation of foreign travellers on their journey to Arbaeen.

Currently, 320,000 Afghans are legally resident in Khorasan Razavi province, and 60,000 of them are studying in schools of the province.

The Dogharoon border terminal in the border city of Taybad is the only official crossing point of the country at the zero point of the Iran-Afghanistan border, with an average of 3,500 daily crossings. During Arbaeen's days, the route will also serve as a transit point for Afghan pilgrims. 

104

Read More:

Khosravi border reopens for Arbaeen pilgrims

Despite unrest in Iraq, Arbaeen rituals would be more enthusiastic than ever