The Iraqi government has resumed visa issuance for Pakistan pilgrims, who have planned to visit the country for Arbaeen (chehlum), and opened all entry points.

The development came during a telephonic conversation between Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and his Iraqi counterpart Othman Ali Farhood. Pakistan had raised the delays in the issuance of visas with the Iraqi administration.

A day earlier, Sajid Hussain Turi, the federal minister for overseas Pakistanis and human resource development and Sanaullah had discussed the issue. Turi had said the Iraqi envoy to Pakistan, Hamid Abbas Lafta, was cooperating with the government. A comprehensive pilgrimage policy was also on the cards to avoid such a situation in the future, he added.

“In light of the decisions taken, all the entry points will be opened for Pakistani visitors and all the visa applications will be promptly considered,” he said, “the number of visitors hailing from Pakistan will also be enhanced with a special visa facility for (chehlum) of Imam Hussain (RA).”

He added that visitors stuck at the Iraqi border would be allowed to enter the country and Pakistan-Iraq mutual committee would be formed for a permanent solution of the issues. “Moreover, it was agreed to enhance coordination between the interior ministries of both countries.”

Turi had also confirmed it in a tweet. “All operations including the opening of land borders for Zaireen, flights and issuance of Iraqi visas have resumed.”

The matter of Pakistani prisoners languishing in jails abroad has been taken up many times by Parliament.

Sanaullah thanked his Iraqi counterpart for the decision and invited him to visit Pakistan. Farhood accepted the invitation and thanked Sanaullah. “I am extremely grateful to him for considering all our demands with immediate action on them for the facilitation of visitors.”