Political Relations

Pakistan and Germany enjoy cordial relations since the 1950s. Both countries formally established diplomatic ties on 15 October 1951. The year 2021 marked 70 years of establishment of bilateral relations. Both countries remain actively engaged in the areas of politics, economy, defence, education and culture that strengthen the bilateral relationship. Pakistan-Germany bilateral relations are institutionalized through the Strategic Dialogue – signed and launched by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries in September 2012 in Berlin.

Both countries support each other on multilateral forums and its candidatures on reciprocal basis. Germany has supported Pakistan on FATF, GSP Plus and more importantly both countries closely coordinated on establishment of “Loss and Damage Fund” during 27^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-27) in Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022.

Approximately ­­131,500 persons of Pakistani nationality/ origin are living in various parts of Germany, out of whom 76000 are Pakistani citizens, around 30,000 are naturalized as German nationals. Currently there are over 9000 Pakistani students enrolled in German universities and institutes.

Bilateral Trade

Germany is Pakistan’s largest exporting partner in EU and the 4th largest over.  Similarly, Germany is also a vital importing partner of Pakistan. Bilateral trade between the two countries has been mutually beneficial with Germany being one of those countries with which Pakistan has a positive trade balance. Major imports from Germany are machinery, chemical products, electrical goods, motor vehicles and iron products. The exports are the same traditional goods comprising of textiles, leather goods, sports goods, footwear, and medical instruments. A volume of bilateral trade since 2012 is given in the following table which shows that the balance is tilted in the favour of Pakistan:

Currency: US$ million, Source: Destatis (Federal Statistical Office of Germany)