Pakistan faces EU evaluation in fresh GSP+ human-rights review

November 28, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan and the European Union opened a fresh round of GSP+ monitoring discussions in Islamabad on Thursday.

The visiting EU delegation flagged key gaps in Pakistan’s human-rights framework and called for stronger policies, legislation, and institutional reforms required under the 27 UN conventions tied to the programme, according to the press release.

The EU team led by Sergio Balibrea of DG Trade and accompanied by Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis met Federal Minister for Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar for discussions on Pakistan’s human-rights progress under the GSP+ framework.

The meeting comes at a time when Pakistan’s continued access to the GSP+ preferential tariff regime remains closely linked to measurable progress on rights protections, governance standards, and enforcement mechanisms.

Pakistan is among the largest beneficiaries of GSP+, which grants duty-free access to EU markets for most exports, including textiles an industry that depends heavily on tariff preferences for competitiveness.

During the meeting, EU officials pointed to areas needing immediate attention, including data integration, treaty-reporting mechanisms, inter-provincial coordination, and the performance of statutory bodies overseeing rights protections.

They also raised concerns related to child labour, online exploitation, labour rights, freedom of expression, and gaps in institutional capacity.

The delegation stressed that stronger enforcement would be a determining factor in the ongoing GSP+ assessment cycle.

Pakistan outlined progress made since 2014, citing legislative and policy reforms covering women, children, labour, marginalized communities, and persons with disabilities.

Officials noted that the National Commission for Human Rights has retained its “A” status under GANHRI, while bodies such as the NCRC and NCSW continue to operate independently.

More than 85% of cases taken up by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances have been resolved, according to the ministry.

The government also highlighted gender-focused initiatives, including the National Gender Policy Framework (2022), gender-responsive budgeting, and provincial programmes.

Welfare schemes such as the Benazir Income Support Programme, supporting over 9.1 million women and the Prime Minister’s Women Empowerment Package were cited as key measures for socio-economic inclusion.

Updates were provided on child-rights institutions including ZARRA and Child Protection Institutes, along with new child marriage restraint legislation.

Officials said Pakistan is implementing National Action Plans on Human Rights and on Business and Human Rights at both federal and provincial levels.

Reforms such as reduced capital offences, implementation of a Mercy Petition Policy, and enforcement of the Torture and Custodial Death Act were also shared with the delegation.

While reiterating its commitment to meeting GSP+ obligations, the government acknowledged remaining challenges tied to climate stress, counter-terrorism pressures, and resource constraints.

The EU delegation is expected to continue sector-specific engagements during its visit, which will shape its next report to Brussels on Pakistan’s compliance and eligibility for the GSP+ scheme.

Copyright Mettis Link News