ISLAMABAD – Ambassador of Iraq in Pakistan Hamid Abbas Lafta on Sundaysaid that Pakistan and Iraq will sign agreements on cooperation in varioussectors, including trade promotion and tariff rationalization to enhancethe bilateral economic and trade ties.
Pakistan and Iraq will sign 10 agreements to promote such cooperation incoming June, which will mark the beginning of a new era in enhancingbilateral relations, the Ambassador of Iraq to Pakistan told APP here.
These agreements will be signed on tax and tariff exemptions, economic andtrade cooperation, promotion of diplomatic cooperation, human trafficking,Coordination in crime, drug and air connectivity, he said.
Ambassador Lafta said that there was a huge potential for the developmentof bilateral trade between the two countries in near future.
Ambassador said that Iraq was a free market where there were vastopportunities for Pakistani investors, from which the local businesscommunity can benefit from.
He said the current $100 million bilateral trade needs to be doubled, whichwould require new petroleum, tourism cooperation on both sides and morefacilities for mutual air travel.
Talks are also underway to make air connectivity more effective in both thecountries and agreements will be signed in this regard, he added.
Ambassador said that in order to improve economic and trade cooperation, itwas necessary to know each other’s markets and in this regard exhibitionsand seminars should be organized to increase the interest of business classand investors of both the countries to promote mutual economic cooperation.
He said that about 200 businessmen had gone to Iraq to participate in thetrade exhibition this year 2022.
In response to another question, he said that 200,000 Pakistanis go to Iraqevery year for religious tourism, the number of which is increasing everyyear and the Iraqi government provides them with best facilities in everyway possible.
The Iraqi Envoy said that these thousands of religious devotees visit theIraqi cities of Karbala, Najaf and Baghdad every year and their locals donot leave any stone unturned in their service and love.
In addition, there is a need to attract Pakistanis for traditional tourismin the tourist areas of Iraq, which will boost tourism on both sides, hesaid.
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He said that special attention is being paid to the facilities for touristsin Iraq and there are many opportunities for foreign tourists to come toIraq for tourism.
In response to another question, he said that Iraq is currently one of thelargest producers of petroleum in the world. He said that Iraq was ready tomeet the energy needs of Pakistan and talks were underway between the twocountries in this regard.
The Iraqi ambassador said that Iraq has vast potential for investment inthe following sectors of the petroleum and energy sector and that localinvestors could play their best role in this regard.
He said, “We want to promote mutual cooperation with Pakistan inpetro-chemical and other fields of energy and in this regard technicalsupport and mutual cooperation can be extended in every possible way.”
Hamid Abbas Lafta also said that there are numerous investmentopportunities for Pakistani companies in the construction sector insouthern Iraq. In this regard, some Pakistani companies have also expressedtheir interest which will help the two sides to understand each other.
He said that interaction between the people of the two countries wasalready sufficient but more work was needed in this regard in order tofurther improve the public relations between the two countries and pass onthis legacy to the next generation.
The Ambassador said that Pakistan is a youth-majority country and the youthin Iraq and Pakistan need to be made aware of the historical religious tiesthat span centuries.
Responding to a question, he said that Arab countries are not new toPakistan and Pakistan’s relations with the Middle East, especially Iraqwill be of utmost importance in future.
He said that there is awareness on both sides required in this regard and“We will continue our serious efforts.” The Ambassador of Iraq to Pakistan,Hamid Abbas Lafta is a seasoned diplomat with a diplomatic career spanning18 years.
