PESHAWAR: German ambassador to Pakistan Bernhard Schlagneck on Wednesday said his country wanted to further strengthen economic and commercial relations with Pakistan.

He also promised an easy visa procedure for businesspersons.

Talking to members of the business community at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, the envoy agreed to make joint efforts to give boost to mutual trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Germany.

“We will make the visa issuance process simple and easy for business community as security situation in Pakistan has improved.We want to further promote our trade and economic relations with Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Schlagneck said he would play his role in the removal of obstacles to the issuance of visas to business community.

Schlagneck promises easy visa procedure for business persons

He said his country had made huge investment in Pakistan, especially in social and economic sectors, and skill development programmes in KP and newly-merged tribal districts.

The envoy said the security advisory for German tourists and investors would be reviewed as the security situation had much improved in Pakistan compared to few years ago.

He, however, said security apprehensions existed due to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s close proximity with Afghanistan.

Earlier, SCCI president Maqsood Anwar Pervez invited German investors to put money in hydel power generation, oil and gas, LPG, mines, mineral, gemstones, agriculture, medicine, fruits, livestock and honey business in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said he was hopeful that the German investment would create employment opportunities, sustainable economic growth and development in the region.

Mr Pervez suggested the establishment of a business facilitation desk at the German embassy in Islamabad to resolve business community’s issues amicably and called for the issuance of German visa to business community on the recommendation letter issued by the SCCI.

Former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former SCCI president Zahidullah Shinwari and other businessmen also spoke on the occasion.

They suggested the holding of the next Business Excellence Award in Berlin, Germany.

The envoy also called on provincial Governor Shah Farman here at the Governor’s House Peshawar and discussed matters of mutual interests.

In a statement issued here, the governor said KP was blessed with natural resources and had important geographic position in the region.

He said the province’s merged tribal districts had suffered due to international politics and instability and unrest inAfghanistan.

The governor said terrorism had badly affected the province’s social and economic environment and security situation.

He said Pakistanstrongly believed in Afghan peace, while the world should work for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.

“Afghanistanis a gateway to Central Asian States and once peace is restored there, the Pak-Afghan trade ties will be strengthened,” he said.

The German ambassador told the governor that he would work further to strengthen and promote relations between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2020