PM Nawaz leaves for Germany on two-day visit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Monday left for Germany on a two-day official visit on the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi accompanied the Prime Minister.

During the visit, the Prime Minister would hold official talks with Chancellor Merkel that will be followed by an official lunch in his honour.

He will meet with President of the German Bundestag (Parliament) and also address a Business Forum organized by the Pakistan Board of Investment which is expected to be attended by a large number of German business executives and investors.

Pakistan and Germany enjoy close and cordial relations. Germany is Pakistan's fourth largest trading partner globally and the largest in the EU. Pakistan's bilateral trade with Germany stands at US 2.5 billion annually. The two countries have a strong collaboration in various other fields.

There is also a strong Pakistan diaspora of over 70,000 living in Germany. In addition there are more than 2,300 students from Pakistan in German universities.

Foreign Office said the visit of the Prime Minister will help in strengthening exiting ties between the two countries.