Islamabad: Making a new beginning, the Pakistan-Iraq Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) held the first meeting of the group with H.E. Mr. Hamid Abbas Lafta, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Pakistan at the National Assembly of Pakistan.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Sehar Kamran, MNA/Convener, Pakistan – Iraq PFG. The meeting was attended by group members, Ms. Mehtab Akber Rashdi, Ms. Shehla Raza and Mr. Muhammad Moein Aamer Pirzada MNAs, who actively participated in the dialogue and discussion on further strengthening the bilateral ties between Pakistan and Iraq.
While welcoming the Ambassador of Iraq, Ms. Sehar Kamran, said that Pakistan and Iraq were intertwined in eternal bonds of religion, brotherhood and culture. She said that the bonds of brotherhood could further be cemented through Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The Ambassador underscored the necessity of regular high level engagements between Pakistan and Iraq, expressing optimism that exchange of visits will contribute to the diversification and enhancement of bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.
Ambassador of Iraq underscored that Pakistan and Iraq had great opportunity in terms of bilateral cooperation in fields of energy, petrolium, trade and business. He also said that Iraq values high its ties with Pakistan and is looking forward more cooperation in term of trade and business.
The Ambassador of Iraq expressed a desire to facilitate a meeting between Civil Aviation Authorities of Pakistan and Iraq, with the aim of fostering greater cooperation and collaboration in the aviation sector.
The Ambassador of Iraq was informed that Pakistan would soon create commercial section in Baghdad. Further, 9th session of Pakistan Iraq JMC is scheduled to be held in September 2024; Joint working group on trade and investment is likely to be established in same session.
It was mutually agreed that in order to strengthen trade relations and identify new avenues of economic collaboration, meetings will be arranged with the business community and chambers of commerce of Pakistan and Iraq, facilitating a dialogue between key stakeholders from both nations.
The Parliamentary Friendship Group reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fostering stronger relations with Iraq and emphasized the need for regular interactions between the two nations.
Both sides agreed that Parliamentary Friendship Groups can play a pivotal role in promoting parliamentary diplomacy, people to people contact and promoting parliamentary relations between two countries.
