Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that starting January 1, 2026, Pakistani pilgrims will only be allowed to travel to Iraq under officially registered group organisers.
Pakistan, Iran and Iraq have agreed to establish a joint working group to streamline travel arrangements for pilgrims, following a trilateral conference of the countries’ interior ministers held in Tehran on Monday.
Naqvi, speaking at the meeting, thanked his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni for hosting the conference at Pakistan’s request, highlighting the growing need to address issues faced by pilgrims visiting Iran and Iraq.
“Pilgrims travelling to Iraq and Iran are of great importance to us,” he said. “This trilateral forum will pave the way for enhanced facilities and support.”
He said the registration process for “Zaireen Group Organisers” has begun, and only individuals granted special embassy-issued visas will be permitted to travel independently.
“The organisers will be responsible for ensuring pilgrims’ safe return,” he said. “This system will help curb illegal travel and overstay issues.”
