Iraq is awaiting a reply to its offer to supply oil to Pakistan unconditionally, Ambassador of Iraq Dr Rushdi Al-Ani said on Wednesday. Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday, he said that his country was ready to import rice, cement, edible oil, technology, manpower, including engineers and doctors, from Pakistan to meet its requirements for reconstruction.
Dr Rushdi Al-Ani said that Iraq had decided to make Pakistan a major trading partner, adding that his country imported over 14 million tons of cement and wheat and a million ton of rice, sugar and other items from many countries. Pakistani rice, he said, was excellent in quality and taste.
He said that Iraq offered tremendous investment opportunities in construction, manufacturing, education, pharmaceuticals, oil, road, railways, health and other sectors, adding that the opportunity could also benefit Pakistani investors. He said Iraq needed to build at least 14 new airports and revive 270 industrial units lying idle.
"I will myself help Pakistani businessmen to get visa at the earliest," he promised. Dr Al-Ani said that he would help Pakistan's business community in developing contacts in Iraq, adding that he was ready to facilitate business delegations to visit Iraq. He said at present, he was issuing around 5,000 visas per month. Stressing the need for bolstering business links between the two countries, he said that his country wanted to encourage private sector to come forward for trade and investment.
In response to a question, he said the Iraqi president, prime minister and other top officials would soon visit Pakistan. He said that an initiative had been taken to start four direct flights between Iraq and Pakistan every month. Dr Rushdi Al-Ani assured businessmen that Iraq's consulate would be reopened in Karachi soon to facilitate the business community.
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