EP assures support to Pakistan over GSP+ status

Governor invites more than 25 members of EP

LAHORE: Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said the European Parliament (EP) members would support Pakistan in extending the GSP-Plus status and call upon India to resolve the Kashmir issue at the earliest.

He expressed these views during a meeting on Wednesday in which more than 25 members of the EP including Vice President Fabio Massimo and Chairman Foreign Affairs David Macallister on Wednesday.

“Two way trades between Pakistan and Europe have increased equally and Pakistan has imported machinery from there by taking benefit of bilateral trade, while GSP+ has also benefited Europe,” said the governor.

The governor along with EU-Pak Friendship Federation Europe President Chaudhry Pervez Iqbal held a meetings with members of EP from Bulgaria Ilhan Kyuchyuk, from England Gina Dowding, from UK Anthea McIntyre, from UK Claude Moraes, from Greece Eva Kailli, from Germany Petra Kammerevert and David Macallister, from Estonia Urmas Paet, former member of EP Wajid Khan and other members at Brussels.

During these meetings, matters of extension in GSP+ status for Pakistan, Pak-Europe trade, Kashmir issue and promotion of tourism were discussed at length.

The Vice President EP Fabio Massimo acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices for the establishment of peace, elimination of terrorism, and also announced their full support to Pakistan for extension in the GSP+ status by EU.

About his visit to Europe, the Punjab governor said the entire world community was supporting Pakistan’s stance despite negative propaganda by India against Pakistan. All the members of EU have reposed confidence in the economic policies of Pakistan and they also stood with Pakistan regarding Kashmir issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2019.