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The government of Germany has announced its decision to introduce business visas for Pakistani nationals, aiming to bolster trade relations between the two countries.
The declaration came from the German Consul General in Karachi, Rüdiger Lotz, during a meeting with the president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI).
Lotz, in his visit to the FPCCI head office in Karachi, assured FPCCI president Atif Ikram Shaikh that business visas would receive priority for the Pakistani business community.
In a high-level interactive session with the German travel business community, FPCCI Senior Vice President Saqib Fayyaz Magu emphasized key areas of cooperation, including women empowerment, startups, research and development, vocational training, and business tourism.
Magu expressed satisfaction at the appointment of Mahin Khan, a senior FPCCI member, as the German Consulate’s Focal Person on Trade and Investment for the Sindh and Balochistan region.
The German Consul General acknowledged Pakistan’s significance as a market for German companies, many of which have maintained a presence in Pakistan and the region for over a century.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the number of Pakistani applicants for German visas has doubled in recent years.
It’s worth noting that in recent months, the German government has relaxed visa restrictions for several countries and streamlined immigration procedures due to various factors, including labor shortages.
A significant aspect of these changes is the introduction of the “Chancenkarte” or “Opportunity Card,” a points-based system for prospective job seekers. This initiative will enable foreigners to enter the country easily and subsequently seek employment locally, rather than applying from abroad.
These developments coincide with a worsening labor crisis in one of Europe’s strongest economies. Germany requires approximately 400,000 immigrants annually to sustain its industries and uphold export levels.
As one of Europe’s most prosperous economies, Germany is grappling with a labor shortage, with the number of job vacancies reaching a record high of nearly 2 million in 2022.
