GSP+ compliance issues: FO says disappointed by EU’s assessment report

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday expressed ‘disappointment’ with the European Union’s recent assessment report, which identified several issues in Pakistan’s compliance with its obligations under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), saying the report failed to present a balanced picture of the country’s performance.

The FO, however, appreciated last week’s assessment of Pakistan’s legislative progress during the reporting period and the country’s continued compliance with the 27 international conventions.

Responding to a query during a weekly media briefing, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated, “Nevertheless, I would be remiss if I did not express disappointment with the assessment, as the report’s overall narrative does not present a sufficiently balanced picture of Pakistan’s performance.”

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It understates the breadth of reforms undertaken since Pakistan joined GSP Plus in 2014 and places disproportionate emphasis on the lower-than-desirable level of progress in certain areas, the FO spokesperson said, adding that GSP Plus remains central to Pakistan’s economic relationship with the European Union, supporting exports, employment, women’s economic participation, poverty reduction, and broader economic development. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement in that respect.

Beyond GSP, he emphasised Pakistan’s EU cooperation extends to development, migration, counter-terrorism, regional stability, climate resilience, connectivity, and many other areas.

Andrabi added, “We will remain constructively engaged with the European Commission and other EU institutions and remain committed to the effective implementation of the international conventions underpinning the GSP framework.”

The spokesperson completely rejected the allegations made by Amnesty International, stating that it is unfortunate that such serious allegations have been levelled without any credible evidence.

“Pakistan calls upon Amnesty International and the international community at large to direct rigorous scrutiny towards the Taliban regime’s continued patronage of terrorist groups, the root cause that this Amnesty International report has conspicuously failed to address,” he added.

Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety and security of its people, he remarked.

He noted that the Taliban regime continues to maintain a permissive environment for a range of terrorist organizations, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and their other affiliates.

The freedom to undertake terrorist activities allowed to these listed organizations, their access to bases and sanctuaries on Afghan soil, as well as their ability to recruit, finance, and execute cross-border attacks, constitute a serious threat to regional peace and security.

“Thousands of innocent Pakistani citizens have been martyred and injured because of terrorist attacks against Pakistan, which have been planned, financed, supported, and carried out from Afghan soil, all under the watch, patronage, and active facilitation by the Taliban regime, Andrabi highlighted.

He urged that any military strikes by Pakistan were undertaken in the exercise of its right to self-defence under the principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort. The FO spokesperson rejected any insinuation in this regard.

Commenting on a specific offer or proposal on a US-Iran 10-day or 15-day ceasefire, he said these are communications, which have a certain degree of confidentiality. So, I will neither confirm nor deny them, he said, adding that Pakistan has been advocating for peace and the necessity of giving peace a chance through diplomacy and dialogue.

As regards your question about the future prospects, we have not lost hope. We remain hopeful; however, the situation on the ground may be grim.

“We will remain alert in the Red Sea area,” the spokesperson said, adding “all our bilateral agreements with Saudi Arabia, or for that matter with any country, once they have been concluded through due process, including ratification, remain in operation.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026