‘Pakistan will get its GSP+ status renewed from EU’

Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar says conspiracies hatched by India have failed

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said Pakistan will get its Generalised Scheme of Preferences-Plus (GSP+) status renewed from the European Union (EU) despite strong lobbying and conspiracies being hatched by India.

The governor expressed these views while speaking to a select group of journalists at the Governor House on Sunday.

Sarwar highlighted that he held a series of meetings with over 36 members of the European Parliament, including the European Parliament Vice President Fabio Massimo, European Parliament’s Committee for Foreign Affairs David Macallister, European Parliament’s Committee for Human Rights Chairperson and others, to gather their support for the renewal of GSP+ status for Pakistan.

“Last time, we had very little support but with successful lobbying and effective presentation of Pakistan’s case, the country secured GSP+ status,” he said.

“Despite full-blown conspiracies hatched by India, the country has a better position this time. During recent meetings with a member of the European Parliament, I highlighted it GSP-Plus status to Pakistan has benefited both sides. Pakistan’s exports to the European Union (EU) countries increased by 51% while the EU member states’ export swelled by 46%,” the governor maintained.

He highlighted that most members of the European Parliament apprised him that India was hatching conspiracies against Pakistan by exaggerating terrorism and other factors as points of contention. “But I have briefed all the members of the European Parliament about sacrifices Pakistan has made against terrorism and steps taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the protection of human rights, and after that, all of them assured him of extending support to Pakistan,” he said.

He underlined that Pakistan had earlier attained the GSP+ status, the issue of its extension will also be resolved and Pakistan has managed to reap the benefits of over $15 billion through the GSP+ status. Extension in GSP+ status, he added, would be a great success of Pakistan on the economic front and good news for the business community as well.

Sarwar said during his meetings with European parliamentarians, he had apprised them of India’s war hysteria in the region, more than 100 days of curfew in occupied Kashmir, the genocide of Kashmiris and its other crimes.

“I am glad that members of European Parliament have expressed serious concerns over Kashmir issue and they all are in favour of the provision of human rights in occupied Kashmir as well as allowing the Kashmiris of their right to self-determination.

“Kartarpur Corridor Project for the Sikh and other steps taken by Pakistan were widely appreciated by members of European Parliament and I have told them that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan was ensuring provision of rights to minorities as per vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and minority communities are enjoying complete protection in Pakistan.

Responding to a question, Sarwar said, though Pakistan was facing challenges with regard to economy, it was also a fact that Pakistan’s economic team took historic measures and now Pakistan was getting stronger economically with every passing day. “For the first time in history, the country’s current account deficit decreased as it will reduce to $1.5 billion from $18 billion in next few months that will again be a major economic success of Pakistan.”

While felicitating 15 Pakistanis on their victory in the UK elections, the Punjab governor said: “I am glad to see that what I had dreamt for after becoming first Muslim member parliament in the UK history, is now coming true and now a good number of Pakistanis have representation in the UK parliament, who will continue to raise their voice for freedom of Kashmiris and people of Palestine.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2019.