Pakistan GSP Plus status—the European Union’s preferential tariff scheme for eligible developing countries—is under fresh political scrutiny in Islamabad after lawmakers were told that deteriorating human rights indicators could put the facility under strain. Syed Naveed Qamar, chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, said Pakistan is receiving negative signals from the European Union on rights matters, though the government rejected any claim of an immediate threat.
What the finance committee heard
Presiding over the committee, Qamar said the signals suggest that human rights problems could leave Pakistan’s GSP Plus arrangement in difficulty. He did not spell out the details of that possible risk. State Minister for Finance and Revenue Bilal Kiani told the panel the GSP Plus scheme will remain in place until December 2028. He added that a committee led by the Deputy Prime Minister is preparing Pakistan’s application for the successor scheme due to begin in January 2029.
Dr Nafisa Shah, a PPP member of the National Assembly, also raised the closure of borders with Iran and Afghanistan and the effect on Pakistani exports toward Central Asian markets. Kiani replied that trade with Afghanistan has been hurt, but that the closures were ordered for national security reasons. The standing committee separately voiced disappointment at the failure of a fixed tax scheme introduced for traders.
What the EU monitoring report flagged
According to the European Union’s fifth GSP report cited in the committee discussion, Pakistan ranks among the countries that gain the most from the facility. In 2024, Pakistan shipped €7.5 billion worth of goods to the EU under preferential tariffs. The report said Islamabad must take concrete measures to reverse negative trends on enforced disappearances and violations of freedom of expression.
The EU also pressed for amendment or repeal of laws on blasphemy, cybercrime, defamation, anti-terrorism and sedition. It listed accountability for human rights abuses, ending torture, prison reforms, better handling of death-penalty cases, and curbing the same negative trends on disappearances and free expression among its priorities going forward. The monitoring assessment covered human rights, fundamental freedoms, weaknesses in the justice system and freedom of expression.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2023–2025: The EU said Pakistan faced trouble meeting GSP Plus obligations, with decline rather than progress in several fields and only limited positive change.
- 2024: Preferential-tariff exports from Pakistan to the EU reached €7.5 billion; Pakistan remained among the scheme’s largest beneficiaries.
- Committee session (reported from Islamabad): Qamar warned of negative EU rights signals; Kiani said the current scheme runs to December 2028 and work has begun on the January 2029 successor application.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ka GSP Plus status EU se sasta tariff hasil karne ki facility hai. Committee mein kaha gaya ke human rights ke masail ki wajah se yeh facility mushkil mein aa sakti hai. Hukumat ne kaha ke abhi fori khatra nahi, aur yeh scheme December 2028 tak chalegi. 2024 mein Pakistan ne isi preferential rate par EU ko 7.5 arab euro ki baramad ki thi.
