In order to give pilgrims a smooth travel experience during the Islamic month of Muharram, Pakistan’s national airline (PIA) has started operating special flights to the city of Najaf in Iraq, official broadcaster Radio Pakistan said on Sunday.
Shia Muslims around the world place great importance on the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala. Many of them visit these places during the first two months of the Islamic lunar calendar to remember the sacrifices made by Imam Hussain, the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) grandson.
According to a report by Radio Pakistan, “Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched special flights for Najaf to facilitate pilgrims during Muharram.” “Operation Ashura” is a flight operation that aims to give pilgrims a smooth travel experience at this important time of religious observance.
The official broadcaster announced that on July 20, flights from Najaf will resume.
In order to locate the Muharram crescent, the central moon-sighting committee of Pakistan convened on Saturday in Quetta, a city in the southwest. The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) declared that Pakistan would commemorate Ashura, which celebrates the martyrdom of Hussians, on July 17, and the start of Muharram on July 8.
Every year on Muharram 10, hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims participate in religious ceremonies and processions in Pakistan on Ashura, a day set aside to honour Hussain. Since terrorist organisations in Pakistan have frequently targeted these processions and gatherings and killed hundreds of people as a result, they are held under strict security.
In order to maintain adequate security measures, the largest province in Pakistan, Punjab, has recommended banning all social media platforms from Muharram 6–11. This was announced on Friday by the provincial information minister, Azma Bukhari.
The province government wrote to Pakistan’s interior minister last week, stating that the action was intended to prevent sectarian violence against Shia Muslims and to curb the dissemination of hate speech and false information.
 has started operating special flights to the city of Najaf in Iraq, official broadcaster Radio Pakistan said on Sunday.){kind=link}