Germany To Grant Extended Visas For Specific Pakistani Group

Germany’s government has officially announced its prioritization of visas for Pakistan’s business community, providing substantial relief for traders. This confirmation came from the German Consul General in Karachi, Rüdiger Lotz, who assured the president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) of their support in this matter.

During Lotz’s visit to the FPCCI head office in Karachi, he assured FPCCI president Atif Ikram Shaikh that business visas would be given priority for the Pakistani business community.

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In a significant interaction with the German travel business community, FPCCI Senior Vice President Saqib Fayyaz Magu highlighted various areas of cooperation, including women’s empowerment, startups, research and development, vocational training, and business tourism.

Magu also 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.

Acknowledging Pakistan’s importance as a market for German companies, the German Consul General noted their presence in Pakistan and the region for over a century. He also disclosed that the number of Pakistani visa applicants for Germany has doubled in recent years.

Germany has recently eased visa restrictions for many countries and streamlined immigration processes, partly due to labor shortages. The introduction of the Chancenkarte, or Opportunity Card, is a notable change, offering a points-based pathway for job seekers to enter Germany easily and seek employment locally. This shift addresses the labor crisis in one of Europe’s strongest economies, aiming to sustain firms and export levels with an annual influx of at least 400,000 immigrants.