Trade scheme: Hina Rabbani moves to address EU concerns

Reservations include human rights record, governance and recent hanging of soldier.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has decided to address the European Union’s (EU) concerns on the country’s human rights record after the 27-nation powerful economic bloc deplored the recent execution of a soldier.

The hanging of Muhammad Hussain, who was given a death sentence in 2008 by a military court for murdering a senior officer, has not only ended an unofficial moratorium on executions since 2008, but may also jeopardise the country’s efforts to seek duty free access of its products to EU markets.

This prompted Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to chair a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the status of implementation of requirements for Pakistan to participate in the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) plus Scheme. The scheme provides preferential treatment to exporters of developing countries to EU countries.

The meeting was attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister for Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Spokesman to the President Farhatullah Babar, Commerce Secretary Munir Qureshi and senior officials from the law and interior ministries, said an official statement.

It said the meeting was intended to mobilise all stakeholders to help meet the criteria and requirements for Pakistan’s participation in the GSP plus Scheme.

“This is part of the democratic government’s endeavors to increase Pakistan’s trade with the European Union and thus expand opportunities for Pakistan’s industry,” the statement added.

Pakistan is hopeful of its inclusion in the GSP plus Scheme from 2014 onwards. The special initiative is for developing countries in order to enable them to achieve sustainable growth and good governance.

But the beneficiaries of this scheme will have to meet certain criteria, including ratification of 27 UN conventions relating to human rights record, good governance and environment.

Pakistan has already ratified 27 UN conventions. However, the EU has voiced concerns over their implementation.

Though abolishing the death penalty is not a precondition for the GSP plus Scheme, Pakistan’s decision to end the unofficial moratorium on executions may hurt its case, remarked an EU diplomat requesting anonymity.

The official said Pakistan’s qualification for the GSP plus Scheme was linked with the county’s human rights record. “We do understand that Pakistan has recently taken certain steps to improve its human rights record, but the EU has concerns on certain issues including the death penalty,” added the diplomat.

A senior foreign ministry official told The Express Tribune that the meeting decided to meet regularly to facilitate fulfillment of the requirements, particularly the ratification and implementation of UN conventions relating to human rights, good governance, and the environment.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2012.