Pakistan, Iraq agree to increase bilateral ties

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iraq have agreed to increase bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors.

The willingness came in a meeting between Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sajid Hussain Turi and Iraqi Ambassador Hamid Lafta here in Islamabad on Thursday.

They discussed bilateral relations and the problems of Pakistani pilgrims, especially those stranded in Iraq.

Both expressed their desire to sign an MoU soon to increase bilateral cooperation to promote a comprehensive pilgrimage policy, employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Iraq and to send Pakistani manpower to Iraq and curb illegal immigration.

The Iraqi ambassador formally invited the federal minister to visit Iraq next month to finalize the Hajj policy and export Pakistani manpower to Iraq, which he accepted.