A friend in need is a friend indeed. This proverb perfectly fits France’s friendship with Pakistan. In all circumstances – whether it is the ordeal of an energy crisis, restoration of heritage, higher education, flood devastation, or other humanitarian efforts – France has consistently stood by Pakistan through weal and woe.
To assist Pakistan in recent flood-related rehabilitation work, the French government has provided financial support of €500,000 in collaboration with the NGO Acted Pakistan.
Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, warmed the hearts of Pakistanis with this kind gesture, offering a grant that will help address ongoing emergency and reconstruction needs. The French government has decided to extend this initial grant of €500,000 to express the French people’s solidarity with Pakistan. This assistance will support 3,000 flood-affected households in Buner and Swat, benefitting around 21,000 individuals.
France also played a key role in helping Pakistan secure GSP Plus status, which enabled Pakistani exporters to increase exports by 65% since joining the scheme.
France’s efforts are not limited to flood crises. The country remains at the forefront of helping Pakistan meet its global commitments. France has mobilized its expertise to close the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) financing gap by scaling up official development assistance.
In critical sectors such as water and energy, the French Development Agency (AFD) has actively participated in promoting green and sustainable development, mobilizing nearly €700 million in the hydropower, urban transport, and water sectors. AFD has also financed €94 million for water treatment projects in Faisalabad.
The Government of Pakistan has tasked the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) with ensuring that 6% of total national power generation capacity is derived from renewable energy technologies by 2030. The AFD, a public financial institution implementing France’s development and international solidarity policies, has supported Pakistan with around 62% of its financing directed toward green energy development.
One major initiative is the renovation of the Mangla Hydropower Station, originally built in 1967 and one of Pakistan’s largest multipurpose dams. AFD’s financing for this renovation has increased energy capacity, reduced emissions, and aligned with the national goal of a sustainable energy sector. The project is expected to extend the dam’s life by another 50 years and is forecast to be completed by 2027.
With €2.5 million in funding from the EU’s Asia Investment Facility, AFD is also supporting the renovation of the Mangla Hydropower Training Institute (HPTI) – renewing both its infrastructure and curriculum to equip local people for the growing energy sector.
Other projects are underway to accelerate the transition toward greener energy, including the Keyal Khwar Hydropower Plant, co-financed by AFD, KfW, and WAPDA. This project aims to replace several thermal power plants, save 182,000 tonnes of CO? emissions annually, and improve electricity access for 600,000 residents by 2028.
In Punjab province, work began in 2023 to extend the power grid with AFD financing, in partnership with the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC). The project is expected to enhance reliable electricity access for millions, especially during heatwaves.
The shift from fossil fuels to cleaner, more sustainable energy has been gradual but steady. In Sindh, a new wind farm has been built with support from AFD’s private sector arm, Proparco, creating local jobs and strengthening renewable energy production. The 20-turbine farm in the Jhimpir corridor produces 50 MW of power, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.
Affordable, eco-friendly, and beneficial for economic growth and job creation – these are the reasons Proparco invested $20 million in Pakistan’s wind energy sector, in line with AFD’s climate strategy. Over the past 25 years, Pakistani exports to France have grown at an annual rate of 2.2%, increasing from USD 371 million in 1995 to USD 639 million in 2020. Pakistan now has an opportunity to diversify its trade and economic ties with France beyond the textile sector. France also played a key role in helping Pakistan secure GSP Plus status, which enabled Pakistani exporters to increase exports by 65% since joining the scheme.
A few years ago, MEDEF International – a private, non-project organization representing the French private sector globally – visited Pakistan with a delegation of 30 leading companies to explore business and investment opportunities. MEDEF International comprises about 7,000 French companies operating in 85 business councils headed by 55 CEOs of major international firms.
Similarly, in 2019, the Government of Pakistan and Business France signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and business. Business France, established in 2015 through the merger of the French Agency for International Investment and UBIFRANCE, facilitates overseas investments by French SMEs and promotes France as an investment destination. Both sides agreed to support business communities in organizing exhibitions, seminars, and trade missions.
In March 2022, French automaker PEUGEOT launched operations in Pakistan through its local partner. This partnership aims to develop state-of-the-art assembly facilities, boost employment and localization, strengthen Pakistan’s automotive industry, and further globalize the PEUGEOT brand.
The writer is a senior Journalist. He is also President of Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR).