ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) in a report recognised Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining and meeting the obligations it has signed under the UN treaties and has also recognised the country as the fifth largest GSP beneficiaries in the context of EU imports.
The EU’s acknowledgement came in the third biennial report released by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Monday.
“It also examines a number of overarching issues such as the freedom of civil society to operate, progress on tackling child labour, and environmental and good governance concerns,” said the statement.
The GSP is the EU trade policy’s main tool to support developing countries and their efforts to pursue sustainable development. Pakistan was granted GSP+ status by the regional body in 2014.
The report shared the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has “shown a keen interest in maintaining GSP+ for its economic and trade benefits”. The report also noted that the government is also interested in the GSP+ arrangement as an incentive for sustainable development and good governance.
In its assessment of Pakistan, the reported remarked that Islamabad has “shown commitment to maintaining ratifications and meeting reporting obligations to the United Nations Treaty Bodies for the 27 UN Conventions”.
The report asserted that Pakistan was making some progress on adopting laws on the protection of women and children rights; elimination of honour killings; protection of transgender persons; protection of the environment; and good governance.
The report took into account the government’s successful fight against drugs and pointed out that Pakistan leads a UN initiative on education in this regard. It also recognised Pakistan’s removal from the list of cannabis resin production countries.
The EU recognised that Pakistan’s launch of a national Child Labour Survey was an important step and also lauded the government for initiating the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights.
The organisation also acknowledged the ministry’s efforts to lead a national awareness campaign on women’s and children’s rights with the EU’s help.
However, the EU has expressed concern over the delays in the progress of the salient draft legislation on enforced disappearances and labour rights.
The regional body also expressed concern over the delay in the passing of Anti-Torture Bill after it was submitted in the parliament.
In the report, the EU has also expressed concern regarding the space being given to the civil society and the suppression of dissenting voices. It labelled the trend as “negative” in these matters and noted that a high level of impunity was being followed for perpetrators of crimes against journalists.
The EU has also expressed “serious concern” regarding the “broad and vague grounds” for the cancellation of the registration of the international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) operating in the country.
The EU also called on Pakistan to increase the country’s Anti-Narcotics Force. But warned that challenges remain in closing the routes for smuggling and enhancing cooperation within region.
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