PHOTO: REUTERS
In its report on the General System of Preferences (GSP) published on Tuesday, the European Commission appreciated that the Pakistan government had agreed to carry out child labour surveys.
It also mentioned that all GSP countries, including Pakistan, had improved reporting on environment and climate change and signed the Paris Agreement and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The report added that more focus on environment in the monitoring could arguably allow for a stronger impact.
On the downside, the European Commission noted with concern that some states, including Pakistan, had walked back on certain human rights. For instance, the report pointed out calls to re-introduce the death penalty by some GSP states.
“Pakistan is debating whether to narrow down the number of crimes punishable with the death penalty and it has meanwhile substantially reduced the number of executions and reformed the procedure for mercy petitions,” it stated.
‘GSP-Plus beneficial for Pakistan and Europe’
It also highlighted that in some countries, civil society space is shrinking. “In Pakistan, a number of international NGOs are being expelled, with implications on the freedoms of those organisations still in the country. Freedom of expression including through the media is under threat.”
The report also stressed that in the area of labour rights, concerns on freedom of association remain in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
Overall, however, the European Commission appreciated that GSP countries, particularly Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are keen to meet international standards. It added that the EU is also providing financing for partners to help implement conventions and take more advantage of the benefits. It pointed to an EU-supported project focused on enhancing the socio-economic rights of women working in Pakistan as an example.
Pakistan was awarded GSP+ status at the beginning of 2014 after the country ratified 27 international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance, and committed itself to implementing them. The GSP+ arrangement seeks to promote sustainable development in ‘vulnerable developing countries’ by having them fulfil certain criteria, particularly those stipulated by the aforementioned conventions.
Pakistan wins EU praise for meeting GSP Plus criteria
On the positive side of things, the report noted that Pakistan remains a major GSP exporter to the EU and accounted for the biggest share of GSP+ imports by the union over the past two years. As much as 62.2 per cent of GSP+ imports by EU over the 2018-2019 reporting period came from the country. In the first year alone, Pakistan accounted for 74 per cent EU imports from GSP+ states.
In terms of overall preferential imports under the wider GSP arrangement, Pakistan came in at number five, behind Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and Indonesia. It accounted for 8.5 per cent of total GSP imports to the EU in 2018. In contrast, Bangladesh accounted for 24.4 per cent, India 23.8 per cent, Vietnam 13.1 per cent and Indonesia 9.6 per cent.
Between 2013 and 2018, Pakistan’s exports to the EU increased by 51.47 per cent, while EU exports to Pakistan rose 47.22 per cent, read a statement released by the union’s press office in the country to announce the publishing of the GSP report.
“Pakistan has greatly benefitted from the GSP+ status,” EU Ambassador to Pakistan Androulla Kaminara said in the statement. “But there is potential for much more, if the export base is diversified and broadened,” he added.
The GSP report has been presented to the European Parliament, and will be debated and subject to a dedicated resolution later this month.
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