ISLAMABAD, July 26 (DNA): German Ambassador Bernhard Schlagheck has said his

country backed Pakistan in its efforts to overcome the socioeconomic

impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and build back better for a more

sustainable future.

In a media interview, Ambassador Bernhard said the successful bilateral

development cooperation between the two countries spanned over decades.

He said the current portfolio encompasses more than 500 million euros in

the areas of renewable energy and climate change, sustainable economic

development and good governance.

He said the German Government has decided to upscale its support to

local Pakistani governments in their fight against the pandemic. It has

made available 0.5 million euros to Pakistan to promote activities,

which would help mitigate the socioeconomic effects of the pandemic at a

local level.

Germany would also commit 6 million euros to support the Pakistani

communities hosting Afghan refugees, to improve local health and

education services, he added.

The ambassador said the projects would be implemented by the German

development organization Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

(GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic

Cooperation and Development. DNA

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