President Dr Arif Alvi has invited German investors to invest in the wind, solar and hydel energy projects and take advantage of the incentives offered by Pakistan in these sectors.

The German investors can invest in special economic zones under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the president said while talking to a delegation of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a German political foundation working in Pakistan since the 1980s. It was led by Asia-Pacific Department Head at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Mirco Gunther.

He said that Germany is one of the largest foreign direct investors in Pakistan with a total investment of $380.5 million. He lauded the fact that over 35 German companies are successfully working in Pakistan.

President Alvi said that Pakistan views its ties with Germany highly and that it wants to deepen and broaden the cooperative relationship.

He said that trade between Pakistan and Germany has been increasing steadily and emphasised the importance of fully realising the enormous potential for trade, investment, and business between the two nations.

The president said that Pakistan and Germany could have fruitful cooperation in learning from each other’s experience in voting mechanisms for the general election, countering fake news and disinformation, and the agenda-setting role of social media, promoting justice fair play, equality and dignity and incorporation of universal ethical and moral values in international relations.

He commended Germany for continuing to support Pakistan's GSP+ status and for meeting all the technical requirements of the FATF's 2018 and 2021 action plans.

He expressed Pakistan’s desire to engage with Germany in terms of capacity enhancement of Pakistani institutions dealing with climate change, improving people-to-people contacts, and strengthening cooperation in higher education.

The president emphasised the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and said there is an urgent need for the international community to increase its humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

He stated that Pakistan sought good ties with all its neighbours. Pakistan, he added, firmly believed that long-term stability in South Asia depended on resolving the Jammu and Kashmir conflict peacefully, in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

The president expressed the expectation that Friedrich Ebert Stiftung will actively support the further development of Pakistan-German ties. FES seeks to enhance communication and understanding between Pakistan and Germany, as well as between South Asia and Europe.

In Germany, there are around 130,000 people of Pakistani descent or nationality. 5000 students from Pakistan are now enrolled in several German institutions too.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk