Brussels, Belgium – Pakistan‘s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with European Council President Charles Michel today, focusing on the continuation of Pakistan’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status with the European Union. The meeting took place on the sidelines of engagements in Brussels, according to a statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The GSP+ status, granted to Pakistan in 2014, provides preferential access to the EU market, significantly boosting Pakistan’s exports. Its renewal is critical for Pakistan’s economy, with billions of dollars in trade at stake. The current GSP+ status is due for review, and Pakistan is actively working to demonstrate its continued commitment to the 27 core conventions required for its maintenance, including those related to human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and good governance.
During the meeting, Dar underscored Pakistan’s dedication to upholding these conventions and highlighted the positive trajectory of its economic relationship with the EU.He also engaged in separate meetings with key leaders from kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, discussing regional collaboration and bilateral ties. Dar congratulated Adylbek Kasymaliev, chairman of the cabinet of ministers and head of the presidential administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, on assuming chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State.
Discussions with Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov centered on the positive momentum in Pakistan-Uzbekistan relations and the importance of continued high-level interactions. Dar also met with Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, congratulating him on his country’s upcoming chairmanship of the next Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) meeting and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
