Iraq resolves matter of issuing visas to Pakistani pilgrims: Qureshi

The Iraqi government has amicably resolved the matter of issuing visas to Pakistani pilgrims, enabling them to attend Arbaeen rituals, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.

In a video message on Thursday, Foreign Minister Qureshi said he had telephonic conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Mohamad Ali Al-Hakim and discussed with him the problems being faced by Pakistani pilgrims in getting the Iraqi visas.

"I am pleased to announce that the issue has amicably been resolved," Qureshi said, adding the issue arose last year too and it was resolved after the intervention by the government of Pakistan.

"I am thankful to the government of Iraq which has considered our request this year too. All the pending applications with the Iraqi embassy [in Islamabad] will be entrained and the visas will be issued," he said.

The foreign minister further said the two sides also decided that additional staff would be sent from Iraq to Pakistan to process the pending thousands of applications so that the process is completed ahead of the Arbaeen and those intending could participate in the rituals.

As that was an annul feature, Qureshi said, the two sides had decided to put in place a mechanism and a mutual framework as defined by other Gulf countries to resolve this issue permanently.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019