Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced today that Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq have formed a trilateral working group aimed at preventing unauthorized migration disguised as religious pilgrimage. The announcement was made following a high-level conference of interior ministers held in Tehran.
Subheading: Pilgrimage travel overhaul
During the conference, participants agreed to replace Pakistan’s longstanding Salar System—where individual pilgrims travel independently—with a formally registered group organiser framework. Under the new registry, individuals wishing to travel for pilgrimage must join recognised groups led by approved organisers beginning January 1, 2026.
Subheading: Coordinated border oversight
Naqvi emphasized that the trilateral committee will enhance coordination between border and immigration agencies to ensure pilgrims depart and return securely. “We will not allow Pakistanis to remain illegally in Iraq,” he stated, underscoring the initiative’s objective to combat overstays and unregulated work abroad.
Subheading: Facilitating legitimate pilgrimage
While addressing concerns over illegal residency, the ministers also vowed to facilitate lawful pilgrimage travel. Naqvi expressed gratitude to Iran and Iraq for their hospitality and urged their continued cooperation to streamline visa issuance and travel logistics for Pakistani pilgrims.
Subheading: Implementation roadmap
The registration drive for group organisers has already begun, with a special visa category to be introduced for individuals travelling independently. The working group will monitor departures, arrivals, and overstays to ensure full accountability and legal compliance.
Conclusion
As millions of Pakistani zaireen embark on pilgrimages each year, this trilateral framework is poised to standardise travel protocols, reduce irregular migration, and foster stronger regional cooperation between Islamabad, Tehran, and Baghdad.
