Pakistan rubbishes Indian media’s ‘malicious propaganda’ on GSP+ status

Islamabad has termed the Indian media report regarding the withdrawal of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status of the country as “malicious propaganda” against Pakistan.

“The news item by an Indian News Agency speculating withdrawal of Pakistan’s GSP+ status is fabricated and a continuation of India’s malicious propaganda against Pakistan,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chauhdri said in a statement on Tuesday.

The report had claimed that the European parliament has moved to withdraw Pakistan's GSP+ status over abuse of blasphemy laws.

India’s malicious smear campaign against Pakistan is well-known and independent organisations including EU DisinfoLab have established India’s credentials as a purveyor of anti-Pakistan propaganda globally, the spokesperson added.

Also read: EU hails Pakistan’s progress on GSP-related conventions

“Even after India’s disinformation campaign being unearthed globally, Indian state and obliging Indian media remain busy in concocting baseless stories against Pakistan. The recent rumours are yet another demonstration of India’s nefarious designs,” the communiqué said.

The FO spokesperson said Pakistan and the European Union (EU) maintain close high-level engagement through multiple dialogue mechanisms, and Islamabad remains committed to full implementation of the 27 international conventions related to the GSP plus.

“Pakistan has successfully completed three biennial reviews of GSP Plus and the fourth biennial review is currently underway,” the statement quoted Zahid Chaudhri as saying.

Currently, the EU parliament is on summer recess till autumn and there has been no discussion on Pakistan since April 2021, the FO statement said.

Earlier in June, the EU also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts towards full implementation of the 27 international conventions stipulated under the continental bloc’s unilateral trade preferences scheme – GSP+.