Stranded Pakistani pilgrims in Iran to return soon: Foreign Office

According to a Foreign Official spokesperson, the 480 pilgrims are in Iran’s city of Qom.  He said that the Pakistani embassy in Iran is providing all possible assistance to them.

He added that the tickets of all stranded pilgrims have been confirmed and they will return to the country soon.

The FO spokesman added 120 out of 600 pilgrims have already returned to the country.

“The Pakistani embassy has offered all kinds of assistance to the pilgrims and steps are being taken to facilitate their return to the country”, he said.

Six hundred pilgrims were left stranded at Iran border after their travel agent fled with their passports and money.

According to details, the travel agency had taken Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 1,20,000 from each family that was going to Iran and Iraq for pilgrimage.

The travel agency, located at Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area, had received money from 1200 persons out of which more than 600 pilgrims were sent to Iran.

However, the agency did not provide Iraq’s visa to any of the pilgrims.

The staff that was accompanying the pilgrims has returned to Pakistan.