KARACHI, Feb 22: The Export Promotion Bureau will arrange participation of Pakistani firms and exporters at the first-ever exhibition on "Rebuild Iraq 2005" being held at Amman, Jordan.

According to an EPB official here on Tuesday, this international exhibition was scheduled for April 4-7 at Marj Al Hammam in the Jordanian capital. "We are encouraging Pakistani exporters to participate in the exhibition, which has been certified by the US Department of Commerce under its trade fair certification programme," he added.

The EPB official said that a Pakistani pavilion would be set up to facilitate display of country's products at the event. He pointed out that the EPB would sponsor 70 per cent of space, stall cost and freight of the products.

The cost of a stall of three metres by three metres is about Rs50,000. Interested parties have been advised to send their applications before February 28 for booking of space at the show.

He said that Pakistan could offer healthcare products, medicines, surgical items, food items, agriculture implements and equipment, educational supplies like books, uniforms and shoes, tents and expertise in the construction of houses and buildings.

Pakistan had been supplying food items, pharmaceutical, furniture and other consumer products to Iraq under the oil-for-food programme of the United Nations during the Saddam period.

The official pointed out that Iraq urgently needed a full range of items - infrastructure, products and services, including hospital, medicines, security equipment, road and railways machinery, oil production tools, finance, telecommunication system, agriculture products, food items, furniture, surgical goods, tents and canvas. But, he said that chances of Pakistani firms to get orders at the show would depend on the number of participating countries and their quality and prices. -APP