KARACHI: Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has commended the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) for its monumental role in boosting Pakistan’s exports.
He highlighted that the GSP+ status has driven an impressive 108 percent growth in Pakistani exports to the EU over the last decade – which served as a critical lifeline for the national economy.
Sheikh expressed his profound appreciation to the European Union and its mission in Pakistan for their continued cooperation. The GSP+ framework has allowed a vast majority of Pakistani products to enter the European market at zero or preferential tariff rates, he added.
FPCCI Chief, emphasising the strategic partnership between Pakistan and the EU, noted that the European Union has proven to be an invaluable ally. The historic export growth witnessed under the GSP+ umbrella is a direct testament to thriving trade relations and the enabling environment the EU has provided to Pakistani businesses, Sheikh added.
Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted that GSP+ provides the business community with a much-needed major export market and an opportunity to diversify beyond traditional textiles.
With the GSP+ framework evolving and international compliance requirements expanding, Sheikh stressed that the lead-up to 2029 represents an important transitionary period.
FPCCI President maintained that to ensure that the business community can continue to incrementally benefit from this preferential status in the EU; and, remain competitive globally as well, we propose an enhanced government facilitation, awareness, and incentivization role.
Furthermore, he emphasised the need for dedicated government-industry task forces to help businesses – especially SMEs – understand and implement the EU’s core conventions on labor rights, human rights, environmental standards, and good governance.
He also called for the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks to improve the ease of doing business and requested targeted policy incentives to help textile and other major sectors of the economy penetrate the European market at an expanded and sustainable scale.
The transitionary period till December 2028 is a window of opportunity, not a time for complacency; and, the government must hold our hand during this transitionary phase.
Without structural reforms, competitive energy pricing, and proactive compliance support, we risk losing the market access we have tirelessly built, he added.
The FPCCI remains committed to working closely with both the Government of Pakistan and the EU Mission to maximize the benefits of the GSP+ program and secure long-term economic stability for the country.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026