Iraqi commanders review traffic and transport plan for Karbala million-pilgrim visits

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Lt. Gen. Qais al-Muhammadawi, deputy head of Iraq's Joint Operations Command and chairman of the Supreme Committee for Million-Pilgrim Visits, chaired a specialized conference in Karbala on Tuesday to coordinate traffic, transport and return plans for the large-scale pilgrimages. The meeting at the city's local government headquarters brought together several provincial governors, ministry representatives, defense and interior ministry officials, Popular Mobilization Forces front commanders and traffic directors from the cities involved. Muhammadawi described the file as one of the biggest challenges facing the security forces, saying transport operations must be carried out to a level that meets expectations. He issued instructions to keep vehicle movement into Karbala uninterrupted and to avoid closing the city's main entrances, while ordering an increase in the number of dedicated transport vehicles on the Najaf-Karbala route in anticipation of heavy congestion. The commander also stressed the need to preserve traffic flow inside Karbala and to ensure the full implementation of the plan covering pilgrims' safe return to their home cities.