EU trade ties in focus as Dar pushes for full utilisation of GSP+ benefits to boost Pakistan’s exports
Celina Ali
Islamabad: Strengthening Pakistan’s trade and economic partnership with the European Union (EU), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar this week called for a coordinated, whole-of-government strategy to maximise the benefits of the bloc’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) framework, improve trade facilitation and expand Pakistani exports to European markets.
Chairing an inter-ministerial meeting on Pakistan’s trade and export promotion agenda at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Dar emphasised that the European Union’s preferential trade arrangement offered significant opportunities for Pakistan’s export growth, requiring stronger institutional coordination, effective policy implementation and strict adherence to international commitments.
The meeting focused on strengthening Pakistan’s engagement with the EU, one of its most important trading partners, while exploring ways to improve the competitiveness of Pakistani products and ensure maximum utilisation of preferential market access.
Senior officials from relevant ministries and departments participated in the deliberations, which covered trade facilitation, international market access, human rights, labour standards and environmental governance.
Dar stressed that Pakistan needed to make full use of the GSP+ arrangement to consolidate its position in European markets, increase export volumes and create new opportunities for Pakistani businesses.
He called for closer coordination among government institutions to ensure that trade policies, regulatory frameworks and export promotion initiatives remained aligned with Pakistan’s international commitments and the requirements of the European market.
The DPM emphasised that preferential access alone was not sufficient to sustain export growth, underlining the importance of improving product quality, meeting international standards, strengthening production capabilities and enhancing the competitiveness of domestic industries.
The EU’s GSP+ framework remains a significant pillar of Pakistan’s economic engagement with Europe, providing substantial tariff preferences on eligible Pakistani exports and offering domestic businesses improved access to the European market.
The arrangement also connects trade opportunities with commitments relating to human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and good governance through the effective implementation of international conventions.
Dar highlighted the importance of fulfilling these obligations, stressing that sustained compliance was essential to maintaining the benefits of the preferential trade arrangement and strengthening Pakistan’s credibility as a trading partner.
He called for a comprehensive approach involving federal ministries, provincial governments and relevant institutions to ensure effective implementation of international commitments while facilitating greater access for Pakistani exporters.
The discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen trade facilitation mechanisms, improve regulatory coordination and encourage businesses to meet evolving international quality and sustainability standards.
Dar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to export-led economic growth and directed relevant ministries and departments to maintain momentum in trade promotion efforts.
He stressed that Pakistan’s diplomatic missions, particularly in Europe, should play an active role in identifying commercial opportunities, facilitating business contacts and strengthening engagement with European institutions and trading partners.
The meeting underscored the importance of bringing trade diplomacy, economic policy and regulatory compliance together to translate Pakistan’s preferential access to the EU market into greater export earnings and sustainable economic growth.
It was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa; the secretaries of foreign affairs, commerce and human rights; Pakistan’s ambassador to Belgium and the European Union; and senior representatives from the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and relevant ministries and departments.
The deliberations reflected Pakistan’s focus on deepening its economic partnership with the European Union, safeguarding the opportunities offered by GSP+ and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in one of the world’s major consumer markets.