President Asif Ali Zardari today accepted an invitation to visit Iraq, a trip he intends to undertake shortly after the Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month, signaling a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.

The development came during a meeting between President Zardari and Iraqi President Dr Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development.

Both leaders underscored the need to bolster economic linkages, focusing on increasing business-to-business interactions and implementing more facilitative visa regimes to boost trade and investment.

During the discussion, President Zardari expressed appreciation for Iraq’s cooperation in accommodating Pakistani pilgrims (Zaireen). He also recognized the Pakistani expatriate community”s role in Iraq, describing them as a crucial bridge of goodwill between the two countries.

The presidents conducted a comprehensive review of Pakistan-Iraq relations, reaffirming their mutual resolve to further solidify the long-standing fraternal ties.

Discussions also extended to regional peace, stability, and cooperation, with both sides agreeing to maintain regular high-level contacts to continue advancing the bilateral agenda.

The meeting was also attended by First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar.