APROPOS the article ‘German Mittelstand’ in your advertisement supplement Mittelstand” (Oct 3).

In Germany there are 3.6 million companies that make up Mittelstand — that is around 99pc of all German enterprises. Around 97pc of German exporters belong to the Mittelstand. They also contribute 35pc of all exports and provide 60pc of all jobs.

The German Chancellor has recently said she wants to support the new government of Pakistan. She is probably reciprocating what President Ayub did for Germany in the early 1960s by loaning a substantial amount for Germany’s reconstruction.

Like Germany then, Pakistan now needs to have a bustling Mittelstand of her own in Turbat, Lasbella, Pishen, Loralai, Sakrand, Nawabshah, Panno Aqil, Bahawalnagar, Muzzagfargarh, Mardan, Miram Shan and Kalam.

Germany has excellent technical institutions for vocational training in classrooms. Simultaneously students gather experience. This provides an ideal and trained manpower.

Imran Khan should request Chancellor Angelina Markel to help Pakistan get these technical institutions and give us a model for making Pakistani Mittelstand.

S. Nayyar Iqbal Raza

Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2018