TEHRAN – Over 75,000 Pakistani pilgrims visited religious places across Iran from September to November 2018, which is deemed as a record number, Pakistan Today reported on Wednesday.

“An unprecedented surge in religious tourism between Pakistan and Iran was witnessed during the months of Muharram and Safar this Islamic year,” the report said.

People from Iraq, Republic of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Turkey and Pakistan respectively constituted the highest travelers to Iran during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2018), according to statistics compiled by Iran tourism organization.

Mashhad, which embraces more than 900 hotels, apartment hotels and guest houses, is the prime destination for Pakistani travelers who come to go on pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam.

AFM/MQ/MG