European Commission has extended GSP+ status to Pakistan. Brussels, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium (March 7, 2020):- In a major development, European Commission has extended Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status to Pakistan for two years till 2022. Pakistan will continue to enjoy preferences under GSP Plus on its exports to EU countries. Chairman EU Pak Friendship Federation Europe, Chaudhry Perveiz Iqbal Losar thanked the European Union institutions for extending GSP Plus status to Pakistan. He applauded the efforts & personal interest of Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Governor of Punjab who visited Brussels from 2-4 December, 2019 on the invitation of EU Pak Friendship Federation Europe and Kashmir Peace Forum for striving hard to meet the GSP plus obligations.
Losar also applauded the efforts of the MEPs of the EU Parliament from Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain, UK, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Greece, Malta and specially of Fabio Massimo (MEP Italy and Vice President EU Parliament) and Wajid Khan who have contributed tremendous efforts in the EU Parliament for granting of GSP Plus status to Pakistan. Losar said that Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, former MEP European Parliament also played a tremendous role in the European Parliament for granting GSP Plus status to Pakistan in 2014. The services of Chaudhry Sarwar has always been very constructive in the European Parliament if it’s the issue of GSP Plus or Kashmir. He has always played an important role in this regard. It is important to note that since the grant of GSP Plus in 2014, Pakistan’s exports to the European Union have enhanced from 4.538 billion euros in 2013 to 7.492 billion euros in 2019, registering an increase of 65 percent.
The main sectors that benefited from GSP Plus have been textile and garments, which besides earning foreign exchange for the country, provided employment opportunities, especially for females. “This would strengthen Pakistan’s resolve to continue to improve the social and economic conditions of its people. I urge Pakistani business community to diversify their exports to capitalise on this opportunity to the optimum,” said Chaudhry Perveiz Losar.
