LAHORE, June 13: Iraqi ambassador Dr Kazim Abdul Hameed Al-Rawi has underlined the need for improving people-to-people contact between the two nations.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Thursday, the envoy noted that the contact between the people of the two countries was not as good as was expected. “It is my duty as an executive to improve the relationship between the two countries at every level,” he said.

He said Pakistan had the chance to export a million tonnes wheat to his country this year. However, he stated, the past Iraqi experience of importing wheat from Pakistan had not been very good.

In his address of welcome, LCCI president Dr Khalid J Chaudhry said Pakistani exports to Iraq hovered around $10 million and imports from Iraq were as low as $1 million.

Pakistan’s major export to Iraq over the years included pharmaceutical products, textiles, agricultural products and in-organic chemicals. Imports from Iraq had predominantly been petroleum products.

Commenting on the condition of Iraq since the Gulf War, Dr Chaudhry said that the international sanctions clamped on Iraq did not leave much for Iraq to survive on. “The international media have been witness to the horror tales of malnourished children.”