Islamabad (TDI): German Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Ina Lepel, said Pakistan and Germany have vast potential for economic growth, but that trade between the two countries has not reached the level their long-standing relationship warrants.
She was speaking at the National Press Club (NPC) in Islamabad on Monday, where she took part in an interactive session with journalists under the club’s international outreach initiative, “Meet the Press.”
Dr. Lepel, who previously served in Pakistan in 2017, said she had returned as ambassador only to find that trade volumes had not improved substantially in the intervening years. She stressed that both sides must work together to promote trade, investment and business cooperation for mutual benefit.
On regional affairs, the ambassador commended Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions, particularly amid the recent US-Iran standoff. She said Islamabad had taken praiseworthy initiatives to encourage dialogue and prevent further instability, adding that diplomacy remained the best way to resolve disputes and avoid escalation.
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Turning to Ukraine, Dr. Lepel strongly criticized Russia’s military actions and expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people. She said Germany and the wider European community stood with Kyiv, and called on Moscow to stop the killing of civilians and respect peace, sovereignty and international law. European countries, she added, continue to provide political, economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine.
Education was another major theme. Dr. Lepel said Germany remains a preferred destination for Pakistani students thanks to its quality institutions, research opportunities and conducive academic environment.
Germany has increased the number of visas issued to Pakistani students, she said, though a surge in applications has sometimes caused processing delays. German authorities, she added, are working to simplify procedures and make the system faster and more efficient.
Earlier, the ambassador toured sections of the NPC and planted a sapling on its premises as a symbol of friendship and environmental sustainability. She was welcomed by NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial, Secretary Dr. Furqan Rao, members of the governing body and senior journalists.
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Dr. Rao briefed the envoy on the club’s history and its initiatives for journalists’ welfare. He described Germany as an important development partner of Pakistan, with longstanding cooperation in trade, education, development projects and the strengthening of democratic institutions, and thanked Berlin for providing scholarships and higher education opportunities to Pakistani students.
Journalists questioned the ambassador on bilateral relations, educational opportunities, regional security and global developments. She emphasized that media cooperation, people-to-people contacts and educational exchanges play a vital role in strengthening ties.
Thanking the ambassador at the conclusion of the visit, Sial expressed hope that relations between the two countries would grow stronger and reaffirmed the NPC’s commitment to fostering dialogue among diplomats, policymakers and journalists.
