Islamabad, Nov 20: Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, proposed a comprehensive strategy on Wednesday to align the GSP-Plus program with the 5Es framework to achieve export-led economic growth and ensure a prosperous future for Pakistan.
He emphasized that the GSP-Plus program goes beyond trade preferences, serving as a roadmap for sustainable development and governance.
Speaking at a conference titled Promoting Good Governance through Trade – Leveraging through GSP+, organized by the Fredrick Naumann Foundation, he highlighted its role as a driver of economic equity, transparency, and sustainability.
The minister pointed out that challenges like weak law enforcement, limited export diversification, and environmental vulnerabilities must be addressed to maximize the GSP-Plus benefits.
He recommended the establishment of export diversification centers with incentives for green technologies and high-value products, and a National Compliance Task Force to monitor GSP-Plus implementation and governance gaps regularly.
Ahsan Iqbal underscored the importance of public-private partnerships to modernize industries, enhance skills, and adopt innovative practices. He also proposed investing in energy projects tailored for exporters and leveraging digitization to enhance trade transparency and efficiency.
He noted that since its introduction in 2014, the GSP-Plus program has significantly boosted Pakistan’s exports, particularly to the EU, growing by over 100% to nearly $10 billion. He identified the program as a key factor in mitigating climate vulnerabilities and a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to human rights, labor standards, and environmental protection.
The minister stressed the potential to achieve $60 billion in export-led growth by 2030 by advancing up the value chain and producing high-end, sustainable, and tech-driven products. He also linked the GSP-Plus program with Pakistan’s digital and environmental vision, aligning with global compliance standards and broader climate commitments under the Vision 2047 framework.
