Key Points
- Pakistan has completed four biennial reviews under the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus
- Deputy Prime Minister confirms ongoing compliance and trade reforms to sustain preferential access
- Key focus areas include labour rights, environmental standards, and regulatory alignment
- Government aims to strengthen economic ties and investor confidence through transparency
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to fully meeting all obligations under the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus. The EU’s GSP+ is a trade programme that grants developing countries preferential access to European markets.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan had completed four biennial GSP Plus reviews and remains dedicated to expanding mutually beneficial trade opportunities. He emphasised that the European Union remains a key economic partner for Pakistan, particularly under the GSP Plus framework.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, made the remarks while chairing a high-level inter-ministerial meeting. The minister reviewed measures to strengthen Pakistan’s economic and trade cooperation with the European Union.
Participants included the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazir Tarar and senior officials from the ministries of Commerce, Interior, Human Rights, Overseas Pakistanis, and Foreign Affairs, as well as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the EU.
Dar highlighted the importance of deepening and expanding trade engagement, noting that the government is implementing reforms across customs, labour standards, environmental protections, and regulatory compliance to maintain GSP Plus benefits. “We are committed to ensuring uninterrupted market access for our exporters while strengthening transparency and governance,” he said.
GSP Plus enables countries that meet criteria on human and labour rights, environmental standards, and good governance to export goods to the European Union with reduced or zero tariffs, providing vital opportunities for trade growth. Pakistan’s continued compliance and reform measures aim to support export expansion in sectors, including textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing, while bolstering investor confidence.
The meeting concluded with a focus on monitoring mechanisms to track compliance and further institutional reforms. To meet the reporting requirements under the GSP Plus, Pakistan would reinforce its broader commitment to international trade obligations.
