Owing to its strategic and geographic location, Pakistan is one of the most important partner countries in German Technical Cooperation. Since the bilateral agreement was signed in 1972, GTZ has been engaged in Pakistan on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

After the nuclear tests in 1998, the United Nations imposed sanctions against the country. Germany also suspended development cooperation.

Pakistan faces numerous socio-economic and political problems, including high illiteracy, lack of access to education and health facilities, high unemployment and widespread poverty. Women are at an economic and social disadvantage. The overexploitation of natural resources and the lack of infrastructure are alarming. The most difficult challenges are relations with India, verging on a state of civil war, border disputes with Afghanistan, terrorism and corruption.

The new government formed in 1999 has taken steps to resolve the conflict with India in particular. In addition, it has introduced a process of democratization centred around administrative decentralization. An open-door trade policy has greatly enhanced Pakistan's attractiveness for international investors. 

Bilateral cooperation was gradually resumed in 2000. Following the events of 11 September 2001, Pakistan has been ranked as a priority country for German development cooperation.

At the intergovernmental negotiations in 2003, Pakistan and Germany reaffirmed their policy of gearing development cooperation to poverty reduction. Special attention is paid to rural areas in northern Pakistan and to the social predicament of women and children.

The following three priority areas have been agreed:

• Basic education
• Basic health, family planning and HIV/AIDS
• Renewable energies and energy efficiency

A temporary priority area is:

• Good Governance - Democracy and civil society

The German Government has been supporting the education programme for Afghan refugees in Pakistan for 18 years now. This programme will continue up to the end of 2005.

GTZ maintains an office in Islamabad as of 1990.

Office address