Shahbaz Sharif signs MoU of solar project with German firm

BERLIN: Germany’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan has said that Pakistan’s role in the South region is extremely important and there can be no stability in the region without Pakistan’s full cooperation.
Dr Micahel Koch and another Federal Foreign Office official held meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here and discussed issues of mutual concern for both countries.
Speaking to Geo News, Dr Koch said that the two sides discussed issues of cooperation between both governments, especially the energy issues where Germany is strong and has been Pakistan’s development partner. “We discussed how Germany as a good friend can help Pakistan deal with this issue.”
He said Pakistan and Germany are working with each other on Afghanistan. “Germany has tried to be a good partner to Pakistan, helping it with its development and supporting efforts in the region to improve security in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.” Shahbaz Sharif told the western delegation that the ‘war on terror’ campaign had drawn on for too long and it has had failed to achieve its original target of bringing democracy and stability to Afghanistan. He said there was an urgent need to look for alternative and objective approaches in the region and international community must cooperate to end the stalemate as soon as possible. He told the German delegation that Pakistan’s efforts to help stabilise Afghanistan has led to the deaths of more than 40,000 innocent Pakistanis. “Pakistan has suffered too much and it doesn’t afford to suffer anymore. The west must come to an understanding that Pakistan needs help with its own issues as its current poor economic state is linked to the security situation in the region, especially Afghanistan.”
Separately, on Friday Punjab government delegation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a solar power project development firm. The firm intends to set up a large solar power generation facility in Punjab. The firm will be part of a business delegation on energy in November where they will launch the project in Pakistan. Speaking at the House of German Economy, Shahbaz Sharif appealed to the representatives of energy companies to help Pakistan in finding new and sustainable means of energy. He said German technology excelled in this area and Punjab government would facilitate the companies if they moved to Pakistan.