ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development is working on a plan to secure the issuance of work permits for Pakistani citizens in Iraq.

For this purpose, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will soon be signed between the ministry of overseas Pakistanis and the Iraqi ministry of labour. The issue was discussed in a meeting between Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Ambassador of Iraq Hamid Abbas Lafta. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the meeting.

“The MoU will make it easier for Pakistani citizens to obtain work permits in Iraq. It will also increase legal immigration and reduce illegal entry into Iraq,” Mr Salik said.

The interior minister also assured the Iraqi ambassador of his full cooperation in resolving the issue of illegal Pakistani residents in Iraq.

MoU will soon be signed to increase legal immigration, says minister

The meeting focused on providing maximum facilities to pilgrims, including the issuance of free-of-cost entry visas and increasing the quota for Pakistani pilgrims.

Mr Naqvi assured the Iraqi envoy that action would be taken against travel agents who charged extra fees to pilgrims. He said each year, hundreds of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims visit Iraq, but they face certain issues, especially during the months of Muharram and Safar.

He said that the government was working to provide maximum facilities to these pilgrims, and if the Iraqi government allowed free-of-charge entry visas to the pilgrims it would greatly facilitate them.

The interior minister also requested the Iraqi government to double the quota for Pakistani pilgrims this year and also to waive the passport submission requirement for Pakistani pilgrims on entering Iraq, because, according to him, it creates problems for them on their return.

The Iraqi ambassador agreed to fully cooperate in this regard to facilitate Pakistani pilgrims. The Iraqi ambassador also provided a list of travel agents who had charged extra fees to pilgrims. The interior minister said strict action would be taken against these travel agents within a week.

During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to soon finalise an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2024