Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq in Islamabad Meets Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

On 8/9/2022, The Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq in Islamabad, Mr Hamid Abbas Lafta, met the Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Hanna Rabbani, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Ambassador congratulated the Minister on the assumption of her position, conveying the greetings of the Iraqi Foreign Minister Mr Fuad Hussein, and his condolences to the people and government of Pakistan after the recent torrential floods that affected large areas and claimed the lives of thousands of Pakistanis.

The Ambassador briefed Ms Rabbani on more than (17) thousand visas that have been granted by the embassy in September 2022, as the number of visas which were granted during this year amounted to over (70,000) visas by the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior, announcing the solution to the problem of Pakistani pilgrims stranded at the Iraqi-Iranian border (Shalamcheh border) and allowing them to enter by the Iraqi competent authorities.

The Ambassador emphasized the need to complete the requirements of signing a number of memoranda of understanding, agreements and treaties that are still pending, such as (exemption from entry visas for holders of diplomatic passports, the agreement on the exchange of convicts, and other treaties, agreements and memoranda of understanding).

On her part, Ms Rabbani expressed her endeavour to resolve the problems and obstacles that lie with her ministry in cooperation with the relevant Pakistani authorities regarding the issue of illegal Pakistani labour in Iraq, and the dropout of a number of pilgrims, in addition to the phenomenon of the needy.