The Al-Abbas Holy Shrine has launched a major tree-planting campaign along the Ya Hussain Pilgrims’ Route, which links the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. The initiative is being carried out in direct cooperation with the Karbala local government and was inaugurated in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Holy Shrine, several members of its Board of Directors, and local officials—highlighting the significance of the project and marking the official start of its implementation.

Mr. Jawad Al-Hasnawi, head of the project's supervisory committee, stated that the Holy Shrine has begun implementing the Ya Hussain Route tree-planting project to reduce the hardship faced by pilgrims during major pilgrimages, many of which occur in the summer months when high temperatures and limited shade increase the physical burden on travelers. He added that His Eminence Sayed Ahmad Al-Safi had instructed the Shrine’s administration to launch a comprehensive planting campaign along both sides of the route from Karbala to Najaf to provide a more comfortable environment for the pilgrims.

He explained that the first phase of the project is already underway, covering the section extending from the start of the ring road (Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis Street) in Karbala to the Khan Al-Nus area. He emphasized that the Holy Shrine has mobilized all relevant departments, as well as its logistical and technical resources, to ensure the project’s completion.

Al-Hasnawi noted that the work is being carried out in partnership with the Karbala local government, represented by the Public Services Department, along with other service bodies such as the General Authority for Groundwater, Karbala branch, which is overseeing the project’s water supply and irrigation requirements.

For his part, Mr. Ahmed Nour Mahdi, the resident engineer for the Karbala–Najaf project, stated that service departments in Karbala have begun planting trees along a 35-kilometer stretch of the Ya Hussain Route in direct cooperation with the Al-Abbas Holy Shrine. He explained that the project covers the area from the Karbala–Najaf border to the ring road (Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis Street).

Mehdi affirmed that work is progressing steadily to plant trees along both the Ya Hussain and Ya Ali roads—each extending 35 kilometers—contributing to the enhancement of the environmental and service landscape along the pilgrims’ pathways.

Emad Bao