ISLAMABAD
\nAmbassador of Germany to Pakistan, Dr. Ina Lepel, visited the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad under the club\u2019s international outreach initiative, \u201cMeet the Press\u201d, where she held an interactive session with journalists and emphasized the need for strengthening economic and trade relations between Pakistan and Germany.
\nThe German envoy was warmly received by National Press Club President Abdur Razzaq Sial and Secretary Furqan Rao, along with members of the governing body and senior journalists. During her visit, Ambassador Lepel toured various sections of the National Press Club and later planted a saplings in the club premises as a symbol of friendship and environmental sustainability.
\nAddressing the gathering, Ambassador Lepel highlighted the longstanding relations between Pakistan and Germany and stressed the need to significantly enhance bilateral trade. She noted that despite the passage of several years, trade figures between the two countries had not witnessed the desired growth.
\n\u201cI served in Pakistan in 2017 and have now returned as ambassador, but unfortunately there has not been significant improvement in bilateral trade volume,\u201d she said. The ambassador stressed that both countries possess immense economic potential and should work closely to expand trade, investment and commercial cooperation for mutual benefit.
\nSpeaking on regional issues, Ambassador Lepel appreciated Pakistan\u2019s efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region, particularly regarding the recent US-Iran standoff. She commended Pakistan\u2019s diplomatic initiatives and efforts to promote peace and dialogue.
\n\u201cI salute Pakistan\u2019s efforts to help achieve peaceful solutions and prevent instability in the region,\u201d she remarked, adding that diplomacy remains the best path to resolving conflicts and avoiding further tensions.
\nDiscussing the situation in Ukraine, the German ambassador strongly criticized Russia\u2019s military actions and expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people. She stated that Germany and the wider European community firmly stand behind Ukraine.
\n\u201cRussia must stop the killing of innocent people in Ukraine,\u201d she said, emphasizing that peace, sovereignty and international law must be respected. She added that European countries continue to support Ukraine politically, economically and humanitarianly.
\nThe ambassador also spoke about educational opportunities in Germany for Pakistani students. She said Germany remains one of the most preferred destinations for higher education due to its quality institutions, research opportunities and welcoming academic environment.
\nShe informed participants that Germany has increased the number of visas being issued to Pakistani students. However, because of the growing number of applications, processing delays occasionally occur.
\n\u201cThere is a huge demand from Pakistani students seeking education in Germany. Sometimes applications take longer because of the volume, but we are working to simplify procedures and make the process more efficient,\u201d she explained.
\nDuring the interactive session, journalists asked questions on bilateral relations, education, regional security and international developments. Ambassador Lepel responded in detail and emphasized the importance of media, people-to-people contacts and academic exchanges in strengthening ties between Pakistan and Germany.
\nAt the conclusion of the visit, NPC President thanked the German ambassador for engaging with the media community and expressed hope that Pakistan-Germany relations would continue to deepen in the years ahead. He also reiterated the National Press Club\u2019s commitment to providing a platform for meaningful dialogue between diplomats, policymakers and journalists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan, Dr. Ina Lepel, visited the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad under the club\u2019s international outreach initiative, \u201cMeet the Press\u201d, where she held an interactive session with journalists and emphasized the need for strengthening economic and trade relations between Pakistan and Germany. The German envoy was warmly received by National […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":575604,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-575591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n