Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting on Monday to review steps for bolstering Pakistan’s trade and economic ties with the European Union
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The session focused on leveraging the GSP Plus scheme to enhance mutual benefits.
Commitment to GSP Plus Obligations
Ishaq Dar highlighted the EU as a vital economic partner for Pakistan, especially through the GSP Plus framework. He noted that Pakistan has successfully completed four biennial reviews under the scheme.
This achievement underscores the country’s dedication to implementing international conventions on human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, and good governance.
The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s full commitment to meeting all obligations under GSP Plus.
Such compliance is seen as essential to expanding duty-free access for Pakistani exports to the European market and fostering long-term trade growth.
Inter-Ministerial Coordination and Broader Cooperation
The meeting brought together key figures, including Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Foreign Affairs Ambassador Amna Baloch, and secretaries from commerce, interior, overseas Pakistanis, and human rights ministries.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the EU and senior officials from federal and provincial departments also participated.
Discussions emphasized deepening engagement beyond trade, including investment, development, security, migration, and climate change.
This aligns with recent interactions, such as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with EU Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis in late January, where similar commitments were expressed.
The government views sustained GSP Plus benefits as critical for export sectors like textiles and leather goods. Continued compliance will help maximize trade opportunities amid evolving global dynamics.