Concessions under GSP Plus scheme: EU for enacting law banning capital punishment

ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) is not satisfied with Pakistan’s undeclared moratorium on the death penalty and is urging Islamabad to formally enact law banning capital punishment in order to continue enjoying export concessions in the markets of the 27 EU member states.

The issue was raised by MNA Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig during an informal discussion at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on the Economic Affairs Division on Tuesday. He said that the EU has also reservations on the state of human rights in Pakistan.

The MNA, who chaired the meeting, said that it was a “do or die” situation for Pakistan in securing concessions from the EU under the GSP Plus scheme, warning that the country could lose one of its major markets to India, which is likely to secure tariff-free access through a trade agreement with the bloc.

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Officials of the Ministry of Economic Affairs informed the meeting that all government agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector, have already undertaken initiatives to convince the EU on extending the GSP Plus scheme for another two years. They said the government plans to send delegations of MNAs and senators to various European countries for talks aimed at safeguarding Pakistan’s trade ties with the bloc. The members of the parliament said that at least Pakistan should be at par with India in terms of enjoying the concessions in the EU markets. Anything less than this, would be a blow to our exports, Baig noted.

The reservations of members of the parliament came after Pakistan has recently intensified efforts to explore new avenues for economic engagement with the EU while also seeking an extension of the “crucial” GSP Plus scheme, following the finalization of what has been described as a landmark trade agreement between India and the bloc. At a meeting on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fulfilling all obligations necessary to expand trade with the EU under the GSP Plus framework.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026