A retired Pakistani industrialist has sent thousands of saplings to Iraq to bring shade to pilgrims, an idea formed when his relatives returned from a holy site with sunburn.
Mohammedi Durbar, 85, wants to plant nearly 50,000 trees along the entire 80km (50-mile) pilgrimage route between Iraq’s Shia holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala.
Millions of people make the pilgrimage every year for the religious ritual of Arbaeen.
They walk most of the way under a baking sun.
Among the worshippers last year were Durbar’s grandson and daughter-in-law, who returned to Pakistan tanned and with photographs showing a barren landscape.
“I immediately realised there was no shade,” Durbar told Reuters at his farm on the outskirts of Karachi.
Durbar travelled to Iraq, spoke to officials and got permission for his project, and a promise that the trees would be cared for.
He also planted some trees in Najaf to see if they could thrive there.
The test was a success.
“The trees are happy,” Durbar said.
A first batch of 9,800 saplings of eight types of trees, up to eight months old, set off from Karachi by truck on Friday, for their journey across Iran to Iraq.
The shipment was delayed about a month because of anti-government protests in Iraq and last-minute visa delays.
Durbar says that the saplings will be well looked after on their journey, with the truck stopping to ensure that they get regular sunshine and water.
He is confident they will arrive in good shape and plans to travel back to Iraq to work on the plan.
The trees will spend the winter in a nursery in Baghdad, with the planting due to begin in March.
He said about a dozen people would plant the trees, with the help of small digger he is also sending from Pakistan.
Durbar, a member of the Dawoodi Bohra sect, estimates it will take three years to plant all of the trees at a cost of Rs25mn ($160,000), which he is paying.
He is not sure if he will live to see pilgrims walking under his trees, but he knows he has found his calling after a lifetime in industry.
“I thank God, at this age, he has put me on the right path,” he said. “Partnership with nature is good.”