Islamabad, Jan 29: EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Ambassador Olaf Skoog, met with Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan to explore ways to strengthen the trade and economic partnership between Pakistan and the European Union. During the meeting, the two sides discussed maintaining and enhancing the benefits of Pakistan’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which allows duty-free access to the EU market, while also ensuring that Pakistan remains compliant with international obligations.
The conversation centered on Pakistan’s adherence to 27 international conventions covering a wide range of areas, including human rights, labor rights, environmental standards, and good governance, to which Pakistan is a signatory. Minister Khan emphasized that the government’s commitment to these conventions is not only due to international obligations but also because they are aligned with the country’s own development goals.
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Ambassador Skoog praised Pakistan’s proactive engagement with the EU and highlighted the mutual advantages of the GSP+ framework, which benefits both Pakistani exporters and European importers. He also expressed interest in strengthening collaboration between Pakistan and the EU in multilateral human rights forums.
Minister Khan acknowledged the economic difficulties Pakistan had faced in the past year but reassured the ambassador of the government’s progress in addressing these issues, pointing to reductions in inflation and interest rates as signs of improvement. Both sides agreed to work closely to ensure that Pakistan maintains its GSP+ status while addressing shared concerns, including human rights and governance issues.
Khan reiterated the government’s commitment to fulfilling its international obligations through the Treaty Implementation Cell (TIC). The meeting concluded positively, with both parties expressing optimism about the future of Pakistan-EU relations. Minister Khan warmly welcomed the EU delegation, reaffirming that the EU remains a key partner for Pakistan in both trade and diplomacy.
