President seeks cooperation with Iraq in trade, defence sectors

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday emphasised the need for strengthening relations with Iraq, especially in the areas of trade, defence cooperation and culture. Talking to Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Iraq Ahmed Amjad Ali at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president suggested the envoy to work on the existing potential to explore bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iraq in diverse fields. Highlighting Pakistan’s increased focus on promoting regional connectivity, Dr Alvi said our policy had shifted from geopolitics to geoeconomics as we have been putting all-out efforts to increase trade and economic relations with the regional countries. He also advised the ambassador-designate to work towards the provision of facilitation to the Pakistani Diaspora and the pilgrims visiting holy places in Iraq. Dr Arif Alvi also suggested him to work on enhancing the air and sea links between the two countries to promote their people-to-people contacts and open new venues for business and trade. The president congratulated the envoy on his appointment as Pakistan’s ambassador to Iraq and expressed the hope that he would play his role to further promote bilateral ties between the two countries.