Bilawal appreciates German support for Pakistan’s GSP+ status  

ISLAMABAD, July 21 (SABAH): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari received a telephone call from Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday. Besides discussing bilateral ties, the two Ministers exchanged views on the regional situation.

According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari underscored that Pakistan highly valued its relations with Germany, both bilaterally and in the context of the EU, which should be further expanded in all areas of mutual interest. The Foreign Minister recalled Foreign Minister Baerbock’s visit to Islamabad last month which had added further momentum to growing collaboration in the bilateral relationship.

The Foreign Minister added that Pakistan and Germany had robust economic engagement and concerted efforts should be made to further strengthen it. He expressed Pakistan’s interest in deeper bilateral engagement in the field of climate change and capacity enhancement of our scientific institutions dealing with climate change. The Foreign Minister also appreciated Germany’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, which is a mutually beneficial arrangement.

In the context of situation in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari underlined that Pakistan had been facilitating the evacuations on a humanitarian basis. The Foreign Minister also reiterated the need for scaled up support of the international community in protecting the lives and livelihoods of the Afghan people in the wake of dire humanitarian and economic crises and acknowledged Germany’s humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister invited Foreign Minister Baerbock to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient date. Foreign Minister Baerbock thanked for the invitation and extended an invitation to the Foreign Minister to visit Germany. The two Ministers agreed to remain in close contact.