Financial Tribune- The Iranian Parliament has approved the government's proposal to increase departure tax in the next Iranian year (starting March 21), albeit with the exception of pilgrimage.

According to Ali Asghar Yousefnejad, the spokesman of Majlis Joint Commission, the tax for religious trips, which is currently 375,000 rials ($8) for air travel and 125,000 rials ($3) for road travel, will remain the same.

Besides, pilgrims to the Iraqi city of Karbala on the occasion of Arbaeen, the 40th-day anniversary after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH), will be exempt from the payment.