ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sent a C-130 aircraft to bring back bodies of 28 pilgrims who were killed in a bus crash in Iran this week, the Pakistani information ministry said on Friday.
The bus carrying Shiite pilgrims from Pakistan to Iraq crashed on Tuesday night in the central Iranian province of Yazd, according to Pakistani and Iranian authorities.
Another 23 people suffered injuries in the crash that happened on their way to Iraq, with more than a dozen of the injured pilgrims in serious condition.
“A special C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force has been sent to Iran to bring back dead bodies of Pakistani pilgrims,” the information ministry said in a statement on Friday afternoon.
“The dead bodies of Pakistani pilgrims will be brought back from Iran today (Friday).”
A majority of the deceased Pakistani pilgrims belonged to the Larkana district in Pakistan’s Sindh province, according to the statement. Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran had recommended sending bodies of Pakistani pilgrims by air due to the long distance between Yazd and Larkana, in view of hot weather.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, said they had completed arrangements for the repatriation of bodies and some of the injured persons.
“Mission is most grateful to Pakistan and Iran for utmost cooperation dealing with tragic situation,” he said on X.
There were 51 people on board at the time of the crash outside of the city of Taft, some 500 kilometers (310 miles) southeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran. The pilgrims had been on their way to Iraq to commemorate Arbaeen.
Millions of Shiite Muslims are currently partaking in the Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq’s Karbala Governorate, which marks the 40th mourning day following the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA), a central figure in Shiite Islam and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Iran has one of the world’s worst traffic safety records with some 17,000 deaths annually. The grave toll is blamed on wide disregard for traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services in its vast rural areas.
Iranian state television has blamed Tuesday’s crash on the bus brakes failing and a lack of attention by its driver.
Bodies of 28 Pakistanis killed in bus crash in Iran to be repatriated today
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Bodies of 28 Pakistanis killed in bus crash in Iran to be repatriated today
- The bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims overturned in Iran’s Yazd on Tuesday, following a technical defect in its braking system
- The pilgrims were on their way to Iraq to commemorate Arbaeen, which marks 40th day following the death of Imam Hussain (RA)
Pakistan, Indonesia sign MoUs to expand cooperation as Islamabad seeks to ease trade imbalance
- Pakistan offers to send doctors and medical experts to support Indonesia’s expanding health needs
- Indonesian president highlights close foreign policy coordination with Pakistan, including on Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Indonesia signed seven memoranda of understanding on Tuesday to deepen cooperation in trade, education and health, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying Islamabad aimed to narrow a $4.5 billion bilateral trade imbalance heavily tilted in Jakarta’s favor.
The agreements were concluded during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s two-day visit to Pakistan, his first trip to the country since taking office and the first by an Indonesian head of state in seven years.
Subianto, who arrived on Monday, held detailed talks with Sharif before the signing ceremony.
“Our discussion has been extremely productive,” Sharif said at a joint media appearance. “More than 90 percent of our current imports from Indonesia are palm oil. We have discussed how to take corrective measures to balance this through Pakistan’s agri-exports, IT-led initiatives and other areas.”
Sharif earlier noted Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Indonesia stood at around $4.5 billion, with the imbalance overwhelmingly in Jakarta’s favor.
Subianto thanked Pakistan for what he called an exceptionally warm welcome, noting his aircraft had been escorted by Pakistan Air Force JF-17 fighter jets.
He said the meeting had produced agreements across several fields, including trade, agriculture, education and science and technology.
The Indonesian president also welcomed Pakistan’s offer to help his country address critical shortages of medical professionals.
“Indonesia has vast needs for doctors, dentists and medical experts, and Pakistan’s support in this regard is strategic and critical,” he said.
Sharif noted Pakistan would be ready to send doctors, dentists and medical professors to assist Indonesia’s plans to expand its medical colleges and universities.
He added that Islamabad would “work closely and diligently” with Jakarta to achieve the targets set during the visit.
Subianto said both countries were also coordinating closely on foreign policy, particularly on developments in Gaza, and reaffirmed Indonesia’s support for a two-state solution.
He invited Sharif to visit Jakarta to deepen cooperation under the new agreements.
Pakistan and Indonesia marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, with both leaders saying the visit would help lift relations to what Sharif called “a much higher level” in trade, development and people-to-people links.
