Germany promises continued support

Islamabad:Germany will continue supporting Pakistan’s development across various sectors, said German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation Svenja Schulze.

During her official visit to Pakistan, Ms Schulze said Germany remained a crucial economic partner for Pakistan, having pledged 163.3 million euros in 2023 alone. “Germany is Pakistan's third-most important economic cooperation partner. Since the beginning of German-Pakistani economic cooperation in 1961, Germany has contributed around 3.7 billion euros (more than Rs113 crores) to Pakistan’s development. German-Pakistani cooperation covers a wide field of issues such as developing professional training capacities, supporting small and medium enterprises, promoting renewable energies and adapting to the consequences of climate change,” she said.

Hosted by her counterpart, Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Schulze met with key Pakistani ministers and signed a memorandum of understanding for establishing a Responsible Business Helpdesk (RBH) between the German development agency GIZ and the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). Following discussions with the minister of economic affairs and Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Schulze met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

She also engaged with Pakistani employers and trade union representatives and visited Kohinoor Textile Mills Ltd. in Rawalpindi to review working conditions and productivity improvements. Schulze also met Punjab Chief Minister Mariam Nawaz Sharif and visited factories. She will fly back today.