GSP Plus review: Support mechanism unit to be established

Ministry of Commerce looking for positive response from the EU

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Treaty Implementation Cell was held in Islamabad where it was decided that the Ministry of Commerce will establish a GSP Plus Support Mechanism Unit (SMU).

The SMU will partner with the private sector and non-governmental organizations working to support initiatives taken to improve the human rights record in Pakistan. It was also agreed that the Ministry of Commerce will train officials to better understand provincial laws, human rights, minorities, women rights and other relevant fields to compile achievements made at the legislative front.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan. Adviser to Prime Minister on Law Ashtar Ausaf Ali, representatives of the Ministry of Law, Anti-Narcotics Force, FIA and Provincial Law Departments participated in the meeting.

Last year, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif established a Treaty Implementation Cell, headed by Ashtar Ausaf Ali, to oversee the implementation of UN Conventions on human rights in all the constituent units of Pakistan.

Ministry of Commerce has been in close coordination with the EU as well as with its 28 member countries individually in order to get their support to enhance Pakistan’s exports to the EU countries. Before the GSP Plus review, which is scheduled next year, the Ministry will initiate lobbying diplomacy wherein the Minister and the Secretary will hold meetings with the Members of European Parliament and European Commission to portray the benefits of the GSP Plus for Pakistan. They will, additionally, evaluate the pace of legislative reforms in the field of human rights undertaken by all the constituent units of Pakistan.

The Minister of Commerce informed the meeting that GSP Plus status has a positive effect on the industrial sector of Pakistan. The trickle-down effect of the trade incentives are reaching the lowest tiers of workers which will effectively result in youth and women empowerment in the country, the Minister said. He was of the view that since GSP Plus has been granted, perception of the EU in Pakistan has improved for its support in facilitating Pakistani exports.

Pakistan’s inclusion in the EU GSP Plus scheme offers immense benefits in terms of increase in exports. Initially, trade analysts had estimated an overall growth of almost 15% in Pakistan’s exports to the EU but the growth in exports since the implementation of GSP Plus has been around 21%. Sectors like articles of leather, ethanol, fresh and processed fruits also have the potential to take advantage of the duty free access and record healthy growths.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2015.

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