Devotees stranded at Pakistan-Iran border

At least 60 buses carrying devotees were told the border was closed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

PARACHINAR: Devotees from Parachinar have been stranded at the Pak-Iran border after the government closed the crossing to stop the potential spread of coronavirus following reports of 43 cases in Iran.

Parachinar locals told The Express Tribune that some of the pilgrims have returned home while some were still stranded at the Taftan border crossing.

Ali Hussain from Kurram tribal district said the at least 60 buses carrying devotees to Pak-Iran border in Taftan area of Balochistan were told the border was closed to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Hussain said the government should have made an announcement in this regard and it would have saved them from taking this difficult journey.

He called upon the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and the federal government to help the stranded.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2020.