ISLAMABAD: The German embassy celebrated the Day of German Unity in the Serena Business Complex gardens with dignitaries and representatives of numerous government and civil entities, and German friends from Diplomatic Corps, companies and social sector organisations.
German Ambassador Ina Lepel welcomed the guests, sharing the context for the Day of German Unity, “36 years ago, on October 3, 1990, Germany was reunited after 45 years of division.
“This small miracle was made possible by the Peaceful Revolution of the people in the east of Germany who defied an oppressive dictatorship with its State Security apparatus. It was also made possible by wise statesmen and stateswomen in the West as well as in the East.”
She added, “The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 was quickly followed by Germany’s reunification in peace and freedom while seeing our country’s destiny in an ever-closer united Europe.
While Germany continues to work for European unity, all the more since the revisionist Russian full-scale aggression against Ukraine is putting our very security at risk, it also keeps building strong ties with friends and partners across the Globe. One of these friends is Pakistan with its wonderful people.”
Germany’s relations with Pakistan continue to be deep and multifaceted with significant engagement in the fields of art, literature and culture. The Ambassador alluded to the poem the national poet Allama Iqbal penned in Heidelberg where he concluded his thesis.
She said: “Indeed, nobody expresses the depth of German-Pakistani friendship better than him in his beautiful poem “Eek sham – One evening” about this famous German university town.”
She also shared recent initiatives where around 13,000 young Pakistanis are currently studying at German universities, a number that has more than doubled in three years; Germany’s investment in development cooperation with Pakistan has reached about 4 billion euros since 1961; and this year, Germany supported the reframing of paintings of several great masters of the Lahore Arts Circle of the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
Chief guest Senator Dr Musadik Malik said: “This evening gives us a great message of hope and friendship and love. And it tells us walls can be raised but walls can also be shattered, and walls can be broken. And when walls are broken by love and togetherness, it is always longer lasting.” The guests were entertained by musicians of the German Air Force Jazz Quintet while they enjoyed German food and beverages.
Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2026
