Pakistan GSP Plus status faces EU human rights pressure
The National Assembly finance committee heard that Pakistan GSP Plus status could face difficulty over rights issues, while the government said the current scheme runs to December 2028.
National Assembly finance committee chair Syed Naveed Qamar said Pakistan is getting negative EU signals on human rights that could strain GSP Plus.
State Minister Bilal Kiani said the scheme continues until December 2028 and denied an immediate threat; a Deputy PM-led committee is preparing for the post-2028 scheme.
The EU’s fifth GSP report said Pakistan was among the top beneficiaries and exported €7.5 billion to the EU under preferential tariffs in 2024.
The same report urged concrete steps on enforced disappearances and free expression, and changes to several criminal and security-related laws.
From 2023 to 2025 the EU said Pakistan struggled to meet GSP Plus duties, with regression in many areas and only limited positive change.