Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched a special flight operation to facilitate pilgrims traveling to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage. The operation begins on August 8, with outbound flights from Pakistan to Najaf running until August 11. Return flights will be conducted between August 18 and 23.
PIA has fixed the round-trip fare at $675 per passenger. However, several pilgrims have called on the airline to reduce the fare and add more flights due to the increased demand and financial strain.
The announcement comes after the federal government imposed a ban on road travel to Iran and Iraq for Arbaeen this year. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the decision on Thursday, stating that the restriction was based on consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Balochistan government, and law enforcement agencies. He said the measure was necessary to ensure public safety and national security.
With the land route closed, many pilgrims are expected to rely entirely on air travel, significantly increasing demand for flights to Najaf.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to increase the number of available flights. The goal is to ensure that all registered pilgrims are able to travel during the designated period.
Officials said the current flight schedule and fare structure may be revised based on demand in the coming weeks.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has accelerated the implementation of new regulations for pilgrimage organizers. On July 10, it officially replaced the long-standing Salar system with the Ziyarat Group Organizer (ZGO) model.
Under the updated policy, all pilgrims must register before traveling, following a process similar to Hajj and Umrah requirements. The ministry reported that 585 companies have already completed documentation. New organizers must register by August 10.
It remains unclear whether the road travel ban will extend beyond this year’s Arbaeen pilgrimage.