Baghdad: The local government of Basra has confirmed the smooth entry and movement of Arbaeen pilgrims through the Shalamcheh border crossing. The Deputy Governor of Basra, Mu’in al-Hassan, highlighted the collaborative efforts with supporting agencies to organize the entry and movement of pilgrims for the Arba’een of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), ensuring a seamless traffic flow and providing optimal services to the arriving pilgrims.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, a meeting was held today at the Shalamcheh border crossing where al-Hassan expressed the local government’s aspiration for this year’s Arba’een pilgrimage to be exceptional, especially following the opening of the new crossing. He mentioned that the supporting agencies’ tasks have been divided sectorally, taking into account the experiences from previous years when the crossing experienced an increase in the number of pilgrims.

Al-Hassan further explained that the meeting addressed key obstacles and strategies to overcome them, stressing the importance of monitoring the smooth passage and movement of pilgrims. He also emphasized evaluating the level of services provided by the supporting departments, which are working tirelessly to create a suitable environment for pilgrims heading to the holy city of Karbala for Arba’een.

He also noted the ongoing coordination between the Iraqi and Iranian sides, which has led to a series of meetings. The most recent meeting involved Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani and Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, with the presence of Khuzestan Governor Mohammad Reza Mavali Zadeh and the Iranian Consul in Basra, Ali Abedi. These discussions focused on mechanisms for receiving pilgrims during the Arba’een of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).

Al-Hassan affirmed that the opening of the new Shalamcheh border crossing is set to facilitate the entry and exit procedures for pilgrims and will enhance the flow of traffic during the pilgrimage season.