KARACHI: A retired Pakistani industrialist sent thousands of saplings to Iraq on Friday to bring shade to pilgrims, an idea formed when his relatives returned from a holy site with sunburn.
Mohammedi Durbar, 85, wants to plant nearly 50,000 trees along the entire 80-km (50-mile) pilgrimage route between Iraq’s Shi’ite Muslim holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala.
Millions of people make the pilgrimage every for the religious ritual of Arbaeen, which marks the 40-day mourning period for the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. They walk most of the way under a baking sun.
Among the worshippers last year were Durbar’s grandson and daughter-in-law, who returned to Pakistan tanned and with photographs showing a barren landscape.
“I immediately realized there was no shade,” Durbar told Reuters at his farm on the outskirts of the city of Karachi.
Durbar traveled to Iraq, spoke to officials and got permission for his project, and a promise the trees would be cared for. He also planted some trees in Najaf to see if they could thrive there.
The test was a success. “The trees are happy,” he said.
A first batch of 9,800 saplings of eight types of trees, up to eight months old, set off from Karachi by truck on Friday, for their journey across Iran to Iraq.
The shipment was delayed about a month because of anti-government protests in Iraq and last minute visa delays.
Durbar says the saplings will be well looked after on their journey with the truck stopping to ensure they get regular sunshine and water.
He is confident they will arrive in good shape and plans to travel back to Iraq to work on the plan.
The trees will spend the winter in a nursery in Baghdad, with the planting due to begin in March.
He said about a dozen people would plant the trees, with the help of small digger he is also sending from Pakistan.
Durbar, a member of the Dawoodi Bohra sect of Shia Islam, estimates it will take three years to plant all of the trees at a cost of 25 million rupees ($160,000), which he is paying.
He is not sure if he will live to see pilgrims walking under his trees, but he knows he has found his calling after a lifetime in industry.
“I thank God, at this age, he has put me on the right path,” he said.
“Partnership with nature is good.”
Pakistani man aims to bring shade to Iraq’s Arbaeen pilgrims
Pakistani man aims to bring shade to Iraq’s Arbaeen pilgrims
- First batch of 9,800 saplings of eight types of trees set off from Karachi by truck on Friday
- Trees will spend the winter in a nursery in Baghdad, with the planting due to begin in March
Pakistan PM invites UAE investment across tech and resource sectors at National Day event
- Shehbaz Sharif says the UAE remains a key economic partner and continues to lend ‘critical support’ to Pakistan
- UAE envoy says both nations have potential for cooperation in renewable energy, AI and economic diversification
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to welcome investment from the United Arab Emirates across emerging technologies and resource sectors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, as both countries marked the 54th National Day of the Gulf country in Islamabad.
Speaking at the ceremony attended by senior ministers, diplomats and business leaders, Sharif said the UAE remained a key economic partner for Pakistan and continued to lend “critical support” to the country’s stabilizing economy.
“Pakistan takes great pride in its strategic partnership with the UAE, which continues to deepen across every domain of life,” he said. “With Pakistan’s economy stabilizing, we stand ready to welcome Emirati investment in renewable energy, AI, fintech, agriculture and minerals.”
Sharif praised the UAE’s leadership and recalled his earliest memories of the Gulf nation as “a land that believed in possibilities long before they became realities,” saying the country’s progress under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commanded “profound admiration.”
UAE Ambassador Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi said the Emirates was committed to strengthening ties with Pakistan in areas including the economy, energy and artificial intelligence.
He said the two countries shared a “deep-rooted friendship built on mutual respect, shared values and a common vision for regional peace and development.”
“We see tremendous potential for collaboration in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and economic diversification,” the ambassador said, adding that the UAE aimed to broaden the scope of its economic relations with Pakistan.
The UAE hosts around 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the country’s largest overseas communities, who Sharif said contributed “tirelessly” to the Gulf state’s development.
Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also joined the UAE ambassador in a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.
