A high-level Pakistani delegation visited the holy city of Najaf at the invitation of the Imam Hussain Cultural Center in Islamabad, an affiliate of the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine, to strengthen scientific, cultural, and religious cooperation between Iraq and Pakistan.

The delegation, which included former Jamaat-e-Islami leader Siraj-ul-Haq and media personality Irshad Bhatti, visited the shrine of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and toured several of Najaf's leading religious and academic institutions, including Imam Al-Khoei's Dar Al-Ilm.

Haidar Mangooshi Director of the International Media Center at the Imam Hussain Holy Shrine, said the visitors were briefed on Najaf's scholarly heritage, the role of the Supreme Religious Authority, and the city's research centers, historic libraries, rare manuscripts, and efforts to preserve Islamic intellectual heritage.

The delegation also met with officials at Dar Al-Ilm to discuss expanding academic cooperation, scholarly exchanges, and joint research initiatives between institutions in Iraq and Pakistan. Siraj-ul-Haq praised Najaf's academic and religious standing, stressing the importance of strengthening collaboration among educational institutions across the Islamic world.

At the conclusion of the visit, the delegation commended Najaf's academic and religious institutions for their contributions to scholarship and reaffirmed the importance of deepening scientific, cultural, and religious ties between Iraq and Pakistan.