Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday assured Pakistan's full support and assistance to Iraq in its reconstruction and restructuring of the institutions particularly in the banking sector.
He was talking to Iraqi Finance Minister Ali Abdul Amir Allawi who called on him here at PM House. Both the countries agreed to continue dialogue to promote bilateral and economic relations and co-operation and assistance in different fields. It was also decided that there would be more interactions between the two countries to identify the areas of co-operation.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan and Iraq have always very good relations and added that these relations would be further strengthened with the promotion of economic ties.
He offered all-out help to Iraq in various sectors needed from Pakistan government and private sector. The Prime Minister said business potential available in Iraq should be exploited and added Pakistan's business community would take full advantage of the opportunities available in Iraq to promote trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Shaukat Aziz said, "Pakistan wants peace and sovereignty in Iraq" and appreciated the election process there.
Ali Abdul Amir Allawi informed the Prime Minister about the restructuring of the economic and financial sectors of Iraq and said that Pakistani business community could play active role in promoting trade relations.
The Iraqi Finance Minister said his country needs assistance and co-operation from Pakistan in its restructuring of banking and financial sectors.
He also briefed Shaukat Aziz about the debt servicing of Iraq and other reforms in various sectors.
The meeting was also attended by Iraqi ambassador Kaif Subhi Al-Yacoubi, Minister of State for Finance Omar Ayub Khan, Secretary Finance Naveed Ahsan and other officials from finance ministry.
Later talking to newsmen, Allawi said the law and order situation in Iraq has been improving following the elections and level of violence is decreasing.
He said that there are vast opportunities for foreign workers in Iraq and expressed the hope that Pakistani skilled workers would get full benefit from the opportunities in Iraq.