ISLAMABAD, Jul 16 (APP): The European Commission’s newly released Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) assessment report stands as a strong endorsement of Pakistan’s economic relevance, active institutional engagement, and continued progress under the special incentive framework.The assessment confirms that Pakistan remains the largest beneficiary of the arrangement, delivering measurable gains for exports, industrial production, and employment.Pakistani exporters have shown exceptional utilization of this preferential trade scheme, solidifying the EU as Pakistan’s primary export market. In 2024, Pakistan successfully secured trade benefits for EUR 7.115 billion out of EUR 7.482 billion in eligible exports, which translates to an extraordinary 95.1% utilization rate.This partnership is incredibly strategic, with the EU receiving 28% of Pakistan’s total exports in 2024 and yielding EUR 732 million in direct tariff exemptions. This commercial relief has been vital in sustaining key labor-intensive industries—including clothing, textiles, leather, prepared foods, and miscellaneous manufacturing—all of which maintained utilization rates between 93.6% and 97.7%.As per report, beyond trade, Pakistan has demonstrated a solid commitment to its international obligations by maintaining its ratification of all 27 core international conventions linked to the GSP+ status. The country has entered no new reservations, complied with UN reporting timelines, and actively cooperated during the EU monitoring mission in late 2025.
On the human rights and justice front, the National Commission for Human Rights achieved prestigious GANHRI ‘A-status’ accreditation in 2024. Additionally, Pakistan removed four offenses from the scope of capital punishment, maintained a complete halt on executions since December 2019, and saw presidential clemency exercised in October 2025. The country has also made steady progress on prison reforms, anti-torture implementation, and reducing the Supreme Court’s appeals backlog.
According to the document, the social, labor, and environmental sectors have shown positive policy momentum as well. Domestic violence laws have now been finalized across all provinces and Islamabad, Sindh secured its first marital-rape conviction, and child-marriage reforms were adopted in several jurisdictions.
Pakistan’s social safety nets and education systems have expanded significantly, supported by teacher recruitment drives, school reopenings, and the enrollment of up to 30,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad.
For workers, Pakistan ratified the ILO Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention in March 2025, set up district vigilance committees, and introduced a national wage-reform action plan. Meanwhile, climate action efforts met major UNFCCC reporting obligations and successfully upgraded Pakistan to CITES Category 1 status, validating its wildlife protection laws.
To further deepen this cooperative relationship, the EU’s bilateral support extends well beyond trade concessions. The EU has committed EUR 400 million in funding spanning 2021 to 2027, which will continue to support green growth, education, the rule of law, and climate resilience initiatives throughout Pakistan. The funding supports green growth, human capital, governance, education, climate resilience, rule of law, skills development and women’s participation.