Trip to Brussels: Commerce minister lobbying prior to GSP-Plus review

Dastgir briefs officials about conditions that led to lifting death penalty moratorium

ISLAMABAD: Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir is in Brussels to lobby for Pakistan before the European Union’s (EU) review of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP)-Plus status awarded to Pakistan two years ago on certain conditions.

A senior official said the minister is busy in lobbying prior to review and issuance of a special report by the European Commission over the performance of Pakistan after availing the facility under the GSP Plus. The EU had bound Pakistan to follow as many as 27 UN Conventions to avail this special incentive. The review is scheduled in January next year.

The officer claimed that the condition pertaining to a ban on capital punishment that Pakistan lifted after an attack on a military-run school in Peshawar in December last year is not among the 27 UN conventions attached with the GSP-Plus.

However, the EU is much concerned and has strong reservations over withdrawal of the moratorium by Pakistan. The officer said the minister is trying to apprise the EU officials about Pakistan’s security situation and the internal threats from militants and the circumstances under which Pakistan decided to withdraw the moratorium on the death penalty.

The minister is accompanied by a legal expert, the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Law, Justice and Human Rights Ashtar Ausaf Ali. They have met with the EU parliamentarians for taking them into confidence over steps taken by the provincial and federal governments for protecting human rights.

Pakistan argues that the death sentence is one of the tools, which has helped in reducing terrorism and extremism after its resumption early this year. He has also told EU officials about the creation of a Treaty Implementation Cell under the direct supervision of the prime minister.

According to information provided by public relations departments of the commerce ministry, the two- member team has visited both Strasbourg and Brussels.

During his visit, the minister apprised the European lawmakers about the success of the GSP-Plus in Pakistan and the positive role it played in sustaining Pakistan’s exports during shrinking international trade.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2015.