22 December 2004	Wednesday	09 Ziqa'ad 1425

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ISLAMABAD Dec 21: Pakistan earnestly desires early restoration of peace in Iraq to end Iraqi people's sufferings, says Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He was talking to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Mahmood Mohammed Al Zebari who called on him at the Prime Minister's House on Tuesday.

Mr Aziz said that early election in Iraq would help restore peace there. He said that Iraq, rich in human and natural resources, possessed the ability to rebuild itself. Pakistan, he said, was willing to cooperate in the reconstruction of infrastructure and rebuilding of Iraq's economy.

Stressing the need for enhancing trade ties with Iraq, the prime minister called for an early meeting of the joint ministerial commission to increase cooperation between the two countries.

The prime minister said that businessmen could be included in the joint ministerial commission to increase interaction between private sectors of both the countries.

The prime minister also said that Pakistan supported Iraq's sovereignty and independence, adding that the country had played a major role in the Middle East and had potential to develop itself into a peaceful and vibrant country with the help of the Ummah and the world at large. The Iraqi foreign minister thanked the prime minister for Pakistan's support to the process of restoration of peace in Iraq.

SRI LANKAN ENVOY: The visiting foreign secretary of Sri Lanka and special envoy of the president of Sri Lanka G.S. Palihakkara also met the prime minister and discussed with him matters pertaining to the upcoming Saarc summit at Dhaka.

IFC: Meanwhile, the prime minister in a meeting with the IFC's Director Javed Hamid said that the government was providing conducive environment to stimulate the private sector's growth and wanted the IFC to strengthen its partnership with private sector to enhance investment in the country.