Deal with UAE firm to build state office compound west of Karbala

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: The Karbala local council’s service committee signed a deal on Saturday with a company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to build a government office city west of the city, a committee release said. ” The project, to be set up near Lake al-Razazza, (15 km) west of Karbala, will stand over an area of 45 square kilometers to encompass all government facilities,” according to the release that was received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “The project aims to get the state departments and offices out of the heart of the city that has several security intersections and ease crowdedness, particularly during the time of Shiite pilgrimage,” it added. The holy city of Karbala , said to be hosting the tomb of Imam al-Hussein, the third holiest figure for Shiite Muslims, lies 110 km southwest of the Iraqi capital Baghdad . AmR (P)/SR 1