ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iraq have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote tourism.
The MoU was signed in Baghdad by Iraq’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Antiquities and the ambassador of Pakistan to Iraq.
In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the MoU will promote cooperation and collaboration in tourism, and reinforce people-to-people linkages between the two countries. He said that Pakistan is also engaging actively with the Iraqi side for facilitation of Pakistani pilgrims to Iraq.
The spokesperson said signing of the MoU is another manifestation of the efforts of both countries to strengthen and diversify bilateral collaboration across diverse fields. Asim Iftikhar said Pakistan remains committed to deepening and broadening its fraternal ties with Iraq.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the foreign tourists are attracted towards Pakistan after some improvement in the Covid-19 situation.
The foreign minister, in a meeting with Special Assistant to PM on Tourism Azam Jamil, on Friday said that the government was extending maximum facilities to foreign tourists, including the visa-on-arrival.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf wanted promotion of tourism, adding the country witnessed unprecedented growth in tourism in 2019. However, like other sectors, the Covid-19 pandemic also adversely impacted tourism, he added.
The foreign minister, referring to his recent visit to Spain, said he had a fruitful meeting with the secretary general of the World Tourism Organization.
Jamil thanked the foreign minister and hinted at formulating a comprehensive national tourism policy in collaboration with the foreign ministry.
