ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: Religious Affairs Minister Ejazul Haq has announced that the government would soon construct a “Pakistan House” for its pilgrims in Karbala, Iraq. The official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted the minister as saying that the proposed “Pakistan House” would have a hospital and would offer other facilities as well to pilgrims visiting Iraq’s holy shrines.

Mr Haq said the foundation stone for the proposed site would be laid during Pakistan Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s visit to Iraq later this year.

The minister said that he and PML secretary general Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed would accompany Chaudhry Shujaat on his visit which was being undertaken on the invitation of prominent Iraqi leader Hojjatul Islam Jafar Al-Hakim. The invitation was extended when Mr Jafar Al-Hakim met the three leaders early this week in Pakistan.

Mr Haq said that since the number of pilgrims to Karbala was expected to increase manifold it was necessary to construct facilities at Karbala.

Pilgrims from all across the Muslim world, including Pakistan throng the mausoleums of Hazrat Ali (AS), Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), Hazrat Abbas (AS) and other noble members of the household of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and devoted followers of the Ahle Bait (AS).

In reply to a question, the minister said that Pakistan House would be constructed on a plot of land purchased by the late Raja Sahib Mehmoodabad, a key worker of the Pakistan Movement. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain annexed the plot several years ago but the land was reclaimed following his downfall.

Mr Haq said that the Karachi-based Khamees Trust would construct “Pakistan House” and take care of it, as the land had been given to it on lease for 30 years. —Online