EU urged to extend GSP plus status

Human rights delegation returns from Germany

ISLAMABAD:

With the first review of Pakistan’s GSP-Plus status coming up in January, the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has appealed to the European Union to continue with the priority scheme.

In January 2014, the EU had granted Pakistan the status of Generalised System of Preference-Plus (GSP+) for duty-free access to Pakistani products in European markets. The scheme, currently granted to only 13 developing countries, is a trade preference scheme described as special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance.



In a statement issued by Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chowhan, who heads the NCHR, the EU has been asked to maintain the status for Pakistan as it has “contributed significantly to the country’s economy and improved the human rights situation in the country”.

The former judge has just returned from a week-long visit to Germany, where he met German officials, as well as EU representatives, to push for the continuation of the GSP+ scheme.

The economic benefits of GSP+ have been significant for the country. Pakistan’s exports to the EU rose by 21% in the first year of the scheme alone.

The mechanism is, however, an incentive for Pakistan to further democratic and human rights reforms. The preferential access to the EU market is, hence, conditional to Pakistan maintaining ratification and effective implementation of the key international conventions concerning human rights, including civil and political rights, labour rights and environmental protection.



Justice Chowhan said the main purpose of his visit to Germany was to introduce the newly established commission to his German counterparts and learn from their experience.

The Pakistani delegation held over a dozen meetings during their week-long stay in Berlin. They met the German commissioner for human rights, the in-charge of Pakistani affairs at the Federal Foreign Office, the director of German Institute of Human Rights, the representative of European Commission in Germany, officials of German federal ministry of economic cooperation and development, ministry of justice, German Federal Bar, members of German parliament and civil society representatives.

“The German government is sympathetic towards Pakistan and wants to see Pakistan build a strong human rights protection mechanism,” said Justice Chowhan in the statement, adding the establishment of the NCHR was well-received at all meetings in Berlin.



On the German officials’ concerns over resumption of executions and establishment of military courts in Pakistan, the NCHR head claimed these were temporary measures to deal with terrorism. He assured them Pakistan would revert to the normal procedures as soon as the security situation normalised.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2015.