HOLY KARBALA, Iraq: Iraqis have purchased about $US69 million worth of silver from Swiss dealers to refurbish the damaged holy Zarih (netting around the holy grave) of Abi’l Fadhl Al-Abbas (AS) in the holy city of Karbala.

"We received on Tuesday 26 August the 1,450 kilograms of silver that we ordered in Switzerland and we will start work in two or three days," secretary-general of the Al-Abbas (AS) mausoleum, Ahmed al-Safi said.

"We were able to buy the precious metal through thousands of donations from pilgrims."

Silver on international markets was trading on Wednesday at $13.60 an ounce.

History of the recent Zarih dates back to 1966 and it was made on the directives of late Al-Marje Al-Aala Sayed Mohsen Al-Hakim.

The holy zarih was damaged owing to less care of the ousted Saddam regime.

Meanwhile, another important plan regading the holy shrine is gold plating of its holy minarets.