LAHORE: German Ambassador to Pakistan Ms Ina Lepel has expressed her country’s resolve towards climate neutrality, youth welfare, global peace, prosperity and enhanced academic collaboration with Pakistan.

She was addressing an interactive session at the Punjab University Institute of Administrative Sciences (IAS) on Monday.

Ms Lepel said Germany was making vigorous efforts to improve global environment and had set a clear national vision to make the world climate neutral by 2045.

She said her country was rapidly shifting towards renewable and reusable sources of energy while public and governmental attention had increasingly turned towards electric vehicles owing to rising petroleum prices.

She stated that in this era of technological revolution, we need to see what artificial intelligence can do.

She said Germany remained focused on peace, security and prosperity in Europe.

Highlighting various aspects of the recent situation in the Middle East, US-Iran and Russia-Ukraine war, she noted that world peace had once again reached a fragile juncture. “We want countries across the world to improve relations with each other because dialogue is the only sustainable way forward,” she remarked.

She added that a sound economy and a strong defense were both essential for national stability, while internal institutional strength was equally necessary for countries to navigate contemporary global challenges.

She observed that bureaucratic red tape had to be eliminated for effective solution to social and governance problems.

Appreciating Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement at multilateral forums, Ms Lepel praised Pakistan’s role at the United Nations Security Council and disclosed that the German Chancellor had recently telephoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss regional tensions, reflecting Berlin’s continued interest in peace and stability in South Asia.

Highlighting educational and economic linkages, she said around 10,000 Pakistani students were currently studying in Germany, while Pakistan, being the fifth most populous country in the world, represented an important trade market for Germany.

She said the German Academic Exchange Service was providing scholarships to hundreds of Pakistani students every year and noted that many Pakistanis were eager to work and acquire technical skills in Germany’s small and medium industrial sector.Responding to students’ questions on diplomacy, the ambassador said the core skills required in diplomacy were largely universal. She advised aspiring diplomats to cultivate the ability to listen carefully, understand other cultures, remain eager to learn, stay calm under pressure and avoid being swayed by provocation or rhetoric. “A good diplomat is one who understands before reacting,” she said.

Earlier, the German ambassador met PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah.

He said he would focus on promoting joint research, faculty collaboration and academic exchange programmes with German universities.On this occasion, Registrar Dr Ahmad Islam, External Linkages Director Prof Dr Yaamina Salman, IAS Director Prof Dr Kashif Rathore, faculty members, students and a large number of PU alumni of German universities were present.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026