ISLAMABAD: In an act of solidarity with Pakistan amid Covid-19, the German government on Thursday decided to contribute 6.5 million euros for activities that aim to mitigate socio-economic effects of the pandemic.

A statement from the German embassy said: “It is more important than ever to focus on the vulnerable parts of society. Therefore, Germany will commit 6 million euros to support Pakistani communities which host Afghan refugees, to improve local health and education services. The projects will be implemented by German development organisation Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.”

German Ambassador Bernhard Schlagheck said thatCovid-19 had shaken the world unexpectedly and will continue to feel the socio-economic consequences of the virus for a long-time. “Showing solidarity with each other during these trying times is the responsibility of us all. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of access to health and education and stressed the necessity to support the weakest parts of society. Germany is looking forward to supporting Pakistan in its efforts to overcome the crisis and to build back better, for a more sustainable future,” he said.

Pakistan and Germany have maintained successful bilateral development cooperation since 1961. The current portfolio includes more than 500 million euros invested in renewable energy, climate change, sustainable economic development and good governance.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2020