Faisal Khawer Butt Sialkot
The Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to Islamabad Mr Bernhard Schlagheck on Thursday has said that Germany and Pakistan had been enjoying warm diplomatic and trade ties since 1951 and although the bilateral trade between both was satisfactory, however he was looking forward to further strengthening of the trade links between both the friendly nations.
While addressing to the local industrialists and exporters at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Mr Bernhard Schlagheck further said that after enjoying more than 70 years of quite cordial relations, it was the high time to explore new horizons for the promotion of the bilateral trade ties.
He said that Germany highly valued its relations with Pakistan as Germany was the 4th largest trade partner of Pakistan globally and top in the European Union (EU) it was the reason Germany has fully supported the extension of GSP-Plus status for Pakistan. While praising Sialkot’s SME (small and medium entrepreneur) sector Mr Bernhard Schlagheck said that main purpose of his visit to Sialkot was to pay tribute to its craftsmen, artisans and industrious work force who had successfully earned a unique status for Sialkot as ‘the export city of Pakistan’.
He said that Sialkot’s role had been very vital in connection with the trade ties between Germany and Pakistan. Mr Bernhard Schlagheck mentioned with grief the lynching of a Sri Lankan citizen at the hand of angry mob in a local factory on 2nd December 2021, and said that serious notice was taken of the incident not in Germany only but in the entire EU.
He said that such incidents could not only badly damage the social and economic relations world wide but also jeopardize the way to progress. Mr Bernhard Schlagheck appreciated the local business community for condemning the sad incident of lynching from the cores of their hearts and also extending financial help and support to the family of the deceased victim.
