GSP Plus: Official calls for addressing EU concerns

Punjab continuously doing legislation for implementing international conventions, moot told

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar has directed all relevant departments to play an effective role in addressing concerns of a mission of the European Union (EU) over implementation of GSP Plus conventions by Pakistan.

He issued the directives while presiding over a meeting on Saturday. The chief secretary said it was imperative for Pakistan to maintain the GSP Plus status as it was the lifeline for the country’s economy. The Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus offers additional duty-free exports to support vulnerable developing countries.

“In the larger national interest, enforcement of relevant laws must be ensured in the province. The federal government must also be apprised of progress in this regard so that the EU’s concerns can be addressed,” he said.

The human rights and minorities affairs secretary told the meeting that Punjab was continuously doing effective legislation for implementation of international conventions.

He said the federal and provincial governments were taking steps for actively implementing 27 conventions of GSP Plus but the EU had expressed concern about implementation of seven conventions.

The meeting reviewed steps being taken to protect human and women rights, and to eliminate child labour in the province.  The additional chief secretary for home affairs and secretaries of various departments also attended the meeting.