KARACHI: An Iranian delegation called on Sindh Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon here on Wednesday and discussed initiatives to facilitate the pilgrimage and tourism for Pakistanis during their visits to Iran.

The Iranian delegation was led by Consul General Hassan Nourian and comprising deputy Iranian road minister Hamidreza Shehraki and the officials of the transport association of Sistan and Baluchestan province.

The delegation said they were looking for diversifying the communication and travel routes for Pakistani tourists and visitors to Iran.

Speaking on the occasion, the Iranian consul general said: “In order to facilitate the tourism and pilgrimage trips from Pakistan to Iran, direct land routes should be established between the two countries as well as from Iran to Iraq so that Pakistani buses can easily enter Iran and continue their path to travel to Iraq.”

Minister Memon called for making the necessary efforts to issue a licence by the Civil Aviation Authority to start a direct flight between Karachi and Chabahar in Iran.

The meeting also discussed that some Pakistani shipping companies had expressed their readiness to take travellers from the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in Pakistan to Chabahar and Khorramshahr ports in Iran and then to Basra port in Iraq.

The Iranian delegation discussed concerns and challenges faced by pilgrims, and emphasised their commitment to offering optimal travel facilities to the pilgrims. They said they don’t want the pilgrims to face any kind of difficulties.

Expressing happiness over the development of bilateral relations between both the neighbouring countries, Mr Memon said the government and people of Pakistan appreciate the services and actions done by the Iran government to facilitate the journeys for Pakistani pilgrims.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2023