F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Bernhard Schlagneck, the German Ambassador in Pakistan has said his country is keen to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations with Pakistan. He assured to bring easiness in visa issuance procedure for business community.
“We will make the visa issuance process simply and easy for business community. Security situations has been much improved in Pakistan as compared few years back. We wanted to further promote mutual trade and economic relations with Pakistan, the German diplomat stressed while addressing to a meeting under chairmanship of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervez, held here at the chamber house on Wednesday.
SCCI Vic president, Abdul Jalil Jan, former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former president Faud Ishaq, Zahidullah Shinwari, Germany Embassy First Secretary of Press and Culture, Ms Christian Rosenberger, SMEDA provincial chief Rashid Aman, SCCI executive committee members Muhammad Shafeeq Afridi, Shamsur Rahim, Ihsanullah Khan, Aftab Iqbal, Mujeebur Rehman, Nisarullah Khan, Malik Kamran Ishaq, Muhammad Anees Ashraf, Shuja Muhammad, Muhammad Shafiq, Saddar Gul, Fazil Wahid, Abdul Hakeem Shinwari, Rashid Iqbal Siddique, Kamran Zeb, Syed Aftab Hayat, Ishtiaq Muhammad, Nisar Ahmad and Syed Ejaz Ali Shah along with traders and industrialist were present in large number in the meeting.
On the occasion, Bernhard Schlagneck and Engr Maqsood Pervez have agreed to make joint efforts to give boost to mutual trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Germany. They were firmed to resolve hurdles in issuance of visas to business community, bottleneck in way of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Germany and fully exploiting each other potentials and experiences by exchange of business delegations of the both countries.
SCCI president invited the German investors to make investment in hydel power generation, oil and gas, LPG, mines and mineral, gemstones, agriculture, medicine, fruits, livestock, honey and other potential sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He praised the GIZ contribution toward KP economic prosperity and development, especially vocational and skilled training programme.
He expressed the hope that the German investment can create employment opportunities, sustainable economic growth and development in the region. He suggested the establishment of business facilitation desk in German Embassy Islamabad in order resolve business community issues amicably and asked to issue visas to business community on recommendation letter issued by SCCI.
The German diplomat said they will make the visa issuance process simple and easy by bringing changes its procedures. He stressed the need for further cementing mutual trade and economic ties with Pakistan. He said his country has made huge investment in Pakistan, especially mentioning about investment in social, economic sectors as well as skill development programmes in KP and newly merged tribal districts.
Bernhard Schlagneck said the security advisory for German tourists and investors will be reviewed as the security situation has much improved in Pakistan as compared to few years back. However, he said the close proximity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Afghanistan border, the security apprehension cannot be denied.
Former president FPCCI, Ghazanfar Bilour, former president SCCI Zahidullah Shinwari, Faud Ishaq and others also spoke occasion and stressed the need for further bolstering mutual trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Germany as well as facilitating business community of the both the country. They suggested the holding of next Business Excellence Award in Berlin, Germany.
