Pak offers capacity building training to Iraqi civil servants
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—The National School of Public Policy (NSPP) can train the Iraqi civil servants for their capacity building and improve their efficiency. The CBR can offer training to tax and custom officials of Iraq, these views were expressed by Dr. Salman Shah Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Statistics in his meeting with Ali Abdul Amir Allawi, Finance Minister of Iraq who called on him in the Ministry of Finance Monday.
Iraqi Ambassador based in Islamabad, Secretary Finance and other senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and EAD also attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed bilateral economic relations of the two countries. Allawi gave an overview of Iraqi debt burden, gradual revival of economy after constitutional arrangements and increased participation of Iraqi forces to maintain law and order. The Iraqi Minister sought Pakistan's help to improve its banking and financial sector, to train and build capacity of its civil servants. He hoped that shortly there would be visible improvement in political and economic situation in Iraq. He invited Pakistani entrepreneurs to participate in reconstruction process in Iraq including public sector infrastructure and cement factories.
Welcoming the Iraqi Minister, Dr. Salman Shah said Pakistan has introduced structural reforms in banking and financial sector and in line with our policies of facilitation, liberalization and privatization, we have privatized most of the banks in Pakistan and now there is only one bank in public sector. The National Institute of Banking and Finance in Pakistan has adequate facilities to impart training to the cadre of Iraqi bankers and officials to improve banking and financial sector of Iraq.
The Adviser suggested Iraqi Minister to send a team of experts to Pakistan for developing a capacity building programme so that Pakistan can devise a tailor made training programme for the Iraqi participants. The Adviser further suggested that restructuring and best practices introduced in the Agricultural Development Bank by Pakistan could be replicated by Iraq. The Adviser assured all possible assistance and help on behalf of Ministry of Finance as well as Government of Pakistan to the muslin brothers of Iraq and Iraqi Government to ensure stability, integrity and economic progress.