German envoy warns Russia-Ukraine war threatens peace beyond Europe

German Consul General in Karachi Thomas Schultze expressed concern over the Russia-Ukraine war, saying it had undermined hopes for a more peaceful world and threatened peace beyond Europe.

However, he said, historical reconciliation between Germany and France and the establishment of the European Union demonstrated that former adversaries could become friends, with lasting peace and economic cooperation benefiting all.

Addressing a reception hosted by the German Consulate General in Karachi, Schultze said Germany and Pakistan were celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations, highlighting the longstanding partnership between the two countries based on reliability, trust, and sustainability.

He said bilateral trade between Germany and Pakistan had increased from approximately one billion euros in 1990 to 3.7 billion euros in 2025, nearly four times higher. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s trade with the European Union had risen from around $2.3 billion to almost $14 billion during the same period, making the EU Pakistan’s largest export partner, followed by the United States with $11.5 billion.

He noted that Pakistan enjoyed a trade surplus of almost $6 billion with the European Union.

Schultze said the EU, comprising 27 member states and a population of approximately 450 million, was the world’s second-largest economy, while Germany ranked third globally.

Highlighting the historical links between Germany and Pakistan, he recalled the establishment of the Indo-European telegraph line in 1870, which connected Europe with Karachi and Bombay, with Siemens playing a key role in its development. Siemens established its first local office in Lahore in 1922, he added.

He said Germany and the European Union had remained reliable partners for Pakistan for decades, with German importers purchasing Pakistani textiles, leather goods, sporting articles, surgical instruments and IT services.

Similarly, Pakistani companies trusted German machinery because of its reliability and the availability of spare parts, even for older equipment, he said, adding that these commercial relationships had also developed into long-standing friendships between family-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in both countries.

Referring to people-to-people relations, Schultze highlighted the historical association of Pakistan’s national poet and philosopher, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, with Germany. He said Iqbal had studied and lived in Heidelberg and Munich in 1907, where his experiences along the River Neckar inspired his famous Urdu poem ‘Aik Shaam’, included in Bang-e-Dara.

He also mentioned the contribution of German-born Dr Ruth Pfau, who devoted more than 55 years of her life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan. She established the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre in Karachi, which developed into a nationwide network of 157 clinics. The World Health Organisation declared leprosy under control in Pakistan in 1996, he said.

On development cooperation, Schultze said economic and development cooperation between Pakistan and Germany dated back to 1961, with Germany having allocated approximately $4.3 billion in assistance to Pakistan since then.

The assistance had focused on climate, energy, sustainable development, vocational training and health, he added.

He also referred to the October visit of President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to Germany, saying it highlighted the strength of bilateral relations. The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) had been active across Pakistan and was expected to further expand its activities in Sindh following the visit to Berlin, he added.

Recalling German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s message on the occasion of the Day of German Unity, Schultze said the German president had called for courage, solidarity, and renewal.

He said these values were also needed to address global and regional challenges, particularly in Pakistan, stressing the need for renewed commitment to peace and stability.

The German diplomat also highlighted the growing importance of sustainable production and environmental responsibility, saying renewable energy and water treatment were no longer merely sustainable options but were becoming economic necessities.

He said the German Consulate had incorporated sustainability into the reception, with electric vehicles displayed at the venue and giveaways produced by a local company using local raw materials. He also highlighted recycling as an opportunity for Pakistan’s industry to become more competitive and sustainable.