Pakistan Issues Travel Advisory for Pilgrims Visiting Iran and Iraq
Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has issued a travel advisory for Pakistani pilgrims planning to visit Iran and Iraq, urging them to verify flight schedules before departure and prepare alternative travel arrangements in case of cancellations or disruptions.
The advisory, issued on October 22, 2026, also asks registered Zaireen Group Organisers (ZGOs) to ensure that pilgrims are fully informed about their travel arrangements. Particular attention has been drawn to journeys involving Tehran, Mashhad and Najaf, where travellers may depend on connecting flights operated by Iranian airlines.
The ministry has advised pilgrims to keep sufficient funds available for alternative transportation, accommodation and other unexpected expenses. The guidance is intended to help travellers avoid being stranded if scheduled flights do not operate as planned.
What Does Pakistan’s Travel Advisory Say?
According to reports citing a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Pakistani pilgrims should confirm their flights before leaving for Iran or Iraq rather than relying solely on previously issued tickets or unconfirmed schedules.
The advisory highlights several precautions:
- Confirm flight operations directly with the airline before departure.
- Recheck connecting flights, particularly those involving Tehran, Mashhad and Najaf.
- Avoid relying on uncertain or unconfirmed Iranian flight connections.
- Prepare alternative air or land travel arrangements where necessary.
- Keep sufficient money available for unexpected transportation and accommodation costs.
- Ensure all members of organised pilgrimage groups know about possible travel disruptions.
The guidance is particularly relevant to pilgrims visiting religious sites in both countries during the same trip, as a disruption to one flight could affect the remainder of their itinerary.
Which Routes Should Pilgrims Check Carefully?
The advisory specifically highlights air travel between Tehran or Mashhad in Iran and Najaf in Iraq.
These routes can be important for pilgrims combining visits to religious destinations in the two countries. If a connecting flight is cancelled or rescheduled, travellers may need to change their itinerary, arrange an alternative connection or extend their stay.
| Route or travel segment | Recommended precaution |
|---|---|
| Flights to Iran | Confirm the departure and arrival schedule with the airline |
| Flights to Iraq | Recheck the booking before leaving for the airport |
| Tehran to Najaf | Verify the connecting flight and available alternatives |
| Mashhad to Najaf | Confirm the flight is operating as scheduled |
| Alternative land travel | Check current border, visa and transport requirements before making plans |
Travellers should not assume that an alternative route will automatically be available. Land crossings and replacement flights may have their own entry requirements, operating conditions and costs.
Why Has the Ministry Issued the Advisory?
The immediate concern highlighted in the advisory is uncertainty surrounding flight operations and the possibility of travel disruption.
The guidance comes amid heightened regional security tensions involving Iran. However, the ministry’s reported instructions focus on flight confirmation, contingency arrangements and ensuring pilgrims are informed; the advisory does not explicitly attribute the flight warning to a specific security incident.
Pilgrimage journeys can involve several flights, accommodation bookings, group transfers and scheduled visits. A cancellation at one stage can therefore create additional costs or leave travellers waiting for replacement transport.
By encouraging pilgrims and organisers to verify flights in advance, the ministry is seeking to reduce the risk of avoidable disruption.
What Should Zaireen Group Organisers Do?
Registered Zaireen Group Organisers arrange travel and related services for groups of pilgrims. Their responsibilities are particularly important when multiple passengers depend on the same flight or connecting itinerary.
Under the reported advisory, organisers have been directed to avoid relying on unconfirmed Iranian flights and ensure that all pilgrims in their groups are aware of the guidance.
Organisers should consider the following steps:
- Reconfirm bookings: Check the status of each flight directly with the operating airline.
- Review connecting journeys: Identify whether a cancellation would affect onward travel between Iran and Iraq.
- Prepare contingency plans: Establish practical alternatives for transport and accommodation.
- Communicate with pilgrims: Share updated schedules and any changes promptly.
- Plan for additional expenses: Ensure travellers understand that delays may involve extra costs.
- Check travel documentation: Confirm passport validity, visas and entry requirements for any proposed alternative route.
Keeping a record of airline communications and accommodation arrangements may also help groups respond more efficiently if their travel plans change.
What Should Pilgrims Do Before Leaving Pakistan?
Individual travellers should take a few precautions before beginning their journey.
Contact the airline directly. Confirm that the flight is scheduled to operate, including any connecting services. A booking confirmation alone may not establish that a flight is operating as planned.
Keep emergency funds available. Set aside money for additional nights in a hotel, meals, replacement transport and other unexpected expenses.
Save important contact details. Keep the contact information for the airline, travel organiser, accommodation provider and relevant Pakistani diplomatic mission accessible.
Keep documents secure. Carry valid travel documents and retain copies of essential bookings and identification separately.
Check official travel guidance. Consult current advisories from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant authorities before departure. Requirements and conditions may change, so earlier guidance should not be treated as a guarantee that travel is currently safe or uninterrupted.
Avoid making rushed alternative arrangements. Before using a different airline or land crossing, confirm that the route is operating and that all visa and entry requirements can be met.
Does the Advisory Ban Travel to Iran and Iraq?
The reported October 22 advisory focuses on confirming flights and preparing for possible disruption. It does not itself announce a blanket ban on pilgrimage travel to either country.
However, travellers should distinguish this operational guidance from broader security advisories issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Office has previously advised Pakistani nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran while regional conditions remain uncertain.
Pilgrims should therefore check the latest official guidance before departure rather than relying exclusively on the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ flight advisory. The status of individual routes, border crossings and entry requirements should also be verified independently.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s latest travel advisory asks pilgrims visiting Iran and Iraq to confirm flights, prepare alternative transport arrangements and keep enough money available to cover unexpected expenses.
The guidance is especially relevant to travellers flying between Tehran or Mashhad and Najaf, as well as organised groups whose itineraries depend on connecting flights.
Pilgrims can reduce the risk of disruption by checking their bookings directly with airlines, staying in contact with their organisers and reviewing current official travel advice before leaving Pakistan.