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BAGHDAD, Iraq: To accomplish studies for a future airport in the holy city of Karbala, France’s firm Aeroports de Paris International signed a 28-million-euro (41-million-dollar) contract with Iraqi government this week. |
| Aeroports de Paris International signed a 28-million-euro (41-million-dollar) contract with Iraq’s government on Monday to carry out studies for a future airport to serve the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
The French embassy said the country’s junior trade minister Anne-Marie Idrac, who attended the opening of the Baghdad International Fair, witnessed the signing by the French firm ADPI. The new site, which was announced by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in July 2008, will be built in holy Karbala province in southern Iraq and be named Middle Euphrates airport. Millions of Shiite pilgrims from around the world flock every year to Najaf, the home of Shiite Islam’s most revered shrine of Imam Ali (pbuh). The new airport is expected to boost the number of pilgrims, who typically visit holy Najaf and holy Karbala, which is home to the shrines of Imam Hussein (pbuh) and Imam Abbas (a.s). |