October is a month of grand celebrations as the Federal Republic of Germany marks 36 years of German Unity on 3rd October, followed closely this year by, the commemoration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Pakistan on 15th October.
After the reunification of Germany in 1990 the political landscape in Europe changed significantly, the European Union grew from 12 member states to 27 in 2026. The GDP of the EU has risen from 6.5 trillion USD back then to 21.2 trillion USD now. Why does that matter for Pakistan? Well, today the Union is the most important export partner, an economic powerhouse with 450 million people, hundreds of thousands of which are of Pakistani origin.
75 years of mutually beneficial relations therefore is more than a milestone. It is an enduring story of friendship, trust and shared progress that started even before 1951. Between 1905 and 1908 Sir Muhammad Iqbal studied not only in Cambridge but also in Munich and Heidelberg. Today, the Rotary Club Heidelberg Schloss supports the Pakistan Eye Bank Society in its efforts to do medical eye screening of school children in Pakistan.
Our economic ties are equally deep-rooted, stretching back more than a century to when Siemens opened its first office in Lahore in 1922. Since then, German companies have remained reliable partners, creating jobs, transferring skills, and driving innovation.
Over the decades, our relationship has expanded across diplomacy, development, trade, education and culture, built on three enduring pillars: Reliability, Trust and Sustainability.
Since 1951, Germany and Pakistan have maintained close ties built on shared values, including human rights, press freedom, human dignity, international law, peace, and stability.
This foundation has fostered a robust economic and development partnership, with the inception of GIZ in Pakistan from 1961, Germany has allocated roughly 4.3 billion US dollars in support for Pakistan, focusing on climate and energy, sustainable economic development, vocational training and employment, and health. A key highlight of 2026 is a €12 million housing project designed to withstand future climate disasters, executed as a joint effort between the UNDP, the Balochistan government, and Germany’s KfW Development Bank.
Furthermore, trade remains a powerful bond. Bilateral trade reached around €3.8 billion in 2025, the trade balance being clearly in favour of Pakistan, hence making Germany Pakistan’s most important trading partner within the European Union.
The textile sector tells this story particularly well. German development cooperation is supporting better labour, social and environmental standards, women’s employment and a more circular textile industry. The total volume of these projects in the textile sector amounts to €37.25 million—an investment in people, skills, dignity, sustainability and opportunity.
Recognizing that sustainable progress must also happen at the heart of local communities, the German Micro Projects Scheme empowers local NGOs with small grants. These localized investments—ranging from school solar grids to vocational training—bring immediate, tangible improvements to Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations, reinforcing the grassroots foundation of this bilateral friendship.
But friendship is not measured only in Euros and projects. It is also found in classrooms, concert halls, laboratories and heritage sites. The Goethe-Institut Karachi continues to connect German and Pakistani creativity through language, music, art and cultural exchange. With Dr. Jörg Martin Schumacher as its Director, exciting programmes lie ahead, including significant participation in the World Culture Festival Karachi 2026. Through the Bildungskooperation Deutsch (BKD) network and PASCH (Schools: Partners for the Future), the Goethe-Institut also promotes German-language learning. The Language Department has shown steady progress, with course performance increasing from 60% in 2025 to 75% in 2026. Meanwhile, a high number of young Pakistanis are currently studying in Germany, strengthening the people-to-people links that will shape our shared future.
From preserving cultural heritage at sites such as Mohenjo-Daro and Makli, to documenting and preserving the ancient heritage and archaeological treasures of Balochistan, and to the remarkable contributions of individuals such as Dr Ruth Pfau, our connection has always had a deeply human dimension.
To commemorate German Unity Day and 75 years of bilateral diplomacy, the German Consulate General, in partnership with Hala Kashigar, proudly introduces a specially commissioned ceramic artwork. Handcrafted by master artisans in rural Sindh, these pieces feature a harmonious blend of the German cornflower and the Pakistani jasmine. By collaborating with Hala Kashigar—a community enterprise dedicated to reviving Sindh’s iconic blue pottery—the partnership proudly supports sustainable livelihoods and celebrates the grassroots craftsmanship that unites both nations.
Celebrating 75 years brings the conviction that the best chapters of the German-Pakistani story are still to come, building bridges every day between people, businesses, institutions, and cultures. This friendship stands renewed, ready to take #PakGermanDosti and #75YearsTogether to new heights for many more years to come.
