Pakistan and Iraq have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including trade, agriculture, water management and defence production.
A Joint Statement simultaneously issued in Islamabad and Baghdad mentioned the agreement between the two countries on the inclusion of Pakistan in the Iraqi Development Corridor and establishing sister port cities relations between Basra and Karachi, health, textile, pharmaceutical and supporting Iraq’s efforts in their reconstruction and rehabilitation. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during his visit to Iraq from June 05-07 held wide-ranging interactions with Iraqi leadership, including with the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament, Interior Minister, Governor of Karbala, Head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, President Al-Hikmet Party and Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Bashir Al-Najafi.
Both sides noted the vital importance of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting, and agreed to hold its next session in the second half of 2023. It was also agreed to hold the inaugural session of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC), at the Senior Officials’ level in 2023.
Pakistan and Iraq will continue to promote parliamentary diplomacy through the exchange of visits and regular contacts between the members of their respective bilateral Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
Both countries would strive to strengthen and expand the bilateral economic, trade and investment ties in the traditional and non-traditional sectors, including by exploiting the existing complementarities and opportunities.
Recognising the huge tourism potential in both countries, Iraq and Pakistan discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism, as well as continuing to encourage tourism and hospitality investment in both countries.—APP
