German Ambassador Bernhard Stephan Schlagheck has said that there are indicators that Pakistan will get out of Grey List of FATF as it has full filled most of the requirements for this purpose.
He was saying so during an informal discussion with Chairman of Karachi Council on Foreign Relations (KCFR) Ikram Sehgal and the members of its Board of Governors.
Read more: FATF grey list: Pakistan completed 32 out of 34 conditions
He was welcomed to the KCFR and was told about the time old relationship between the Muslims of British India and after independence with Pakistan and now we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of relations between Pakistan and Germany that these relations date back to the times when our Allama Iqbal studied philosophy in Germany.
And that there existed a commemorative plaque and a street named after him in Germany.
Dr. Ruth Pfau was also remembered, who fought magnificently against leprosy in Pakistan. That the relations were being further boosted with addition of IT exports to Germany.
The Ambassador thanked the Board of Governors for providing him the opportunity and informed that there existed a lot of goodwill between the peoples of Germany and Pakistan.
He said that Germany can provide a lot of help to Pakistan in the technical fields and for this purpose people to people contact was necessary, which was developing slowly.
In response to a question, he said that within the EU, Germany was the largest trading partner of Pakistan and it was with German support that Pakistan continued to be in GSP Plus status and that for Pakistan to continue in the present GSP Plus status, which would expire in 2024, Pakistan needed to fulfill EU requirements in the areas of human rights , extinction of child labor , conducive labor laws, including working hours, sustainable environment and anti terrorism measures and hence German support for keeping Pakistan in GSP Plus would continue.
In response to the question for providing FDIs, he said that along with investments Germany would readily provide technical knowledge.
That in addition to few other fields, Volkswagen manufacturing unit is being established in Hub and some other technological investments are in progress.
That FDIs with soft loans along with technical know-how and other businesses would start coming into Pakistan with provision of continued political environment and security in the country.
Read more: Pakistan, Iran reiterate resolve to further strengthen bilateral ties
In response to a question about Ukraine and Russia that India-Pakistan’s situation was different as both are nuclear armed countries and India from being the largest democracy of the world had turned into an electoral autocracy with a very poor recent record of human rights.
In response to a question regarding human rights atrocities taking place in Kashmir, the Ambassador agreed and said that whereas Kashmir remains to be a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, however Charter of UN through Security Council’s Resolutions must be complied by India in Kashmir.
The Ambassador said that Russia had invaded Ukraine, in a way that Ukraine doesn’t have any right to exist as an independent country.
While discussing this topic further and in response to a question, he said that the Cuban crisis of 60s was different to a Ukrainian attack by Russia.
Chairman Ikram Sehgal profoundly thanked the German Ambassador for giving time to Karachi Council on Foreign Relations and appreciated the Ambassador’s coverage of Businesses with Pakistan and technical transfers and his forthright political expression that expanded over South Asia and Europe.
The Ambassador thanked the Chairman and hoped for continuing such dialogues in future also.
