Iraqi envoy emphasizes to declare Karachi, Basra or Najaf twin cities
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KARACHI: Ambassador of Iraq to Pakistan, Dr. Ali Yasin Mohammed Karim has emphasized on reaching twin cities agreement between Pakistan and Iraq by either declaring Karachi and Basra or Karachi and Najaf as twin cities.
This would not only help in dealing with visa issues and to increase bilateral trade but would pave a way for bringing the two peoples closer to each other, he said while speaking at an interactive session with members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to KCCI statement on Wednesday, referring to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Iraqi Ambassador said that Iraq was considering to establish gas terminals at Port Qasim and Gwadar worth billions of dollars.
With CPEC many ports in the region will lost their importance and Pakistani would be a rich country. Most of the Pakistanis abroad especially in the Gulf region would return to their homes, he predicted.
KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President Asif Nisar, Vice President Muhammad Younus Soomro, and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present, said KCCI statement on Wednesday.
The Ambassador said that some factories including 18 cement manufacturing factories were available in Iraq but they were not working properly as compared to those of Pakistan, which had advanced industrial units and better infrastructure.
As factories in Iraq need improvements, he added, the private and public sectors of Iraq and Pakistan could undertake joint ventures in all the sectors of the economy.
"We prefer private sector's joint ventures which are quicker against those in public sector level.
Iraqi envoy said that currently Iraq was mostly buying goods from China, India and some other countries whereas Pakistan could also enhance its share and efficiently compete with Chinese and Indian products through quality control.
Dr. Ali Yasin stressed the need for frequent visits of KCCI members to Basra, Baghdad or Najaf to explore trade opportunities not just in the fabric market but in other sectors as Iraq required almost everything so the business community of Karachi should not confine itself to fabric market only.
Earlier, President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo said after improved law and order situation in Pakistan and on completion of CPEC and Gwadar Port, this region would attract substantial amount of foreign investment from different parts of the world. Iraq could also benefit from the situation by investing or undertaking joint ventures in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi.
He called for establishing Iraqi Consulate in Karachi keeping in view the significance of the city as international financial, industrial and commercial hub. (APP)
