Tasnim � Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami said the country is ready to facilitate the transfer of Pakistani pilgrims to Iran�s northeastern holy city of Mashhad and Iraq�s holy city of Karbala via railroad network.

According to the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, Eslami held talks with Pakistan�s Minister of Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad on a range of issues, including ways to boost railroad cooperation.

Speaking at the meeting, Eslami highlighted the cordial relations between Iran and Pakistan and said the cultural and religious commonalities between the two neighbors are so numerous that they can help further promote the ties.

He also said that Tehran is ready to facilitate the transfer of Pakistani pilgrims to the Iranian and Iraqi holy cities of Mashhad and Karbala via its railroad network.

Each year, some 200,000 Pakistani Shiites visit Iran on pilgrimages to Mashhad and other holy cities.

The population of Shiites in Pakistan is estimated to be at least 16 million from a total of above 190 million.