ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and Germany successfully concluded bilateral development cooperation talks in Islamabad on Wednesday as Germany announced a new financial and technical commitment worth €114 million for the period 2025-26.
The development package focuses on key areas such as climate and energy (just transition), sustainable economic development and vocational training, and social protection.
The negotiations were co-chaired by Muhammad Humair Karim, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Christine Toetzke, Director General of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Ina Lepel, Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan, and Saqlain Syeda, Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany, also participated in the engagement, reinforcing institutional ties and the spirit of collaboration between the two governments.
EAD Secretary Karim thanked the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for its sustained and valuable support to the development of Pakistan in advancing renewable energy initiatives, encouraging employment generation and strengthening social protection mechanisms.
The need to continue aligning with Pakistan’s Economic Transformation Plan “URAAN Pakistan” was also stressed.
Christine Toetzke appreciated Pakistan’s reform measures and reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting Pakistan in addressing the challenges of climate change, economic transformation and social inclusion.
Ambassador Ina Lepel praised the strong partnership between the two countries and emphasized that Germany values its long-standing friendship with Pakistan and will continue to work together to promote sustainable growth, good governance and people-centered development.
At the conclusion of the event, Secretary of Economic Affairs Humair Karim and Director General Christine Toetzke signed the Summary Record of the Bilateral Negotiations between Pakistan and Germany on Development Cooperation 2025, formally marking the new commitments and reaffirming the shared determination to strengthen bilateral ties.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation within the framework of the Pakistan-Germany Climate and Energy Partnership, strengthen coordination on vocational training and youth employment, and continue collaboration on social protection and disaster resilience.
The next round of negotiations between the two countries will be held in Berlin in 2027.
