Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting on Monday to strategize and review measures for strengthening Pakistan’s economic and trade cooperation with the European Union (EU).
A central focus of the meeting was the GSP Plus (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus) framework, which Senator Dar described as a cornerstone of the bilateral economic partnership. Highlighting Pakistan’s track record, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that the country has successfully completed four biennial GSP Plus reviews.
“The EU remains a vital economic partner for Pakistan. We are fully committed to meeting our international obligations under the GSP Plus scheme to ensure the continued expansion of mutually beneficial trade opportunities,” Senator Dar stated.
Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today chaired a high-level inter-ministerial meeting to review measures aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s economic and trade cooperation with the European Union.
DPM/FM underscored the importance of… pic.twitter.com/0lo1zaHV9a
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) February 9, 2026
Strengthening the GSP Plus Framework
The GSP Plus status provides Pakistan with duty-free access to European markets for the majority of its exports. This preferential status is contingent upon the implementation of 27 international conventions covering:
- Human and Labor Rights
- Environmental Protection
- Good Governance
The Deputy Prime Minister underscored that deepening this engagement is a priority for the government to boost exports and support sustainable economic growth.
High-Level Attendance
The meeting saw participation from key federal leadership and senior officials, reflecting a whole-of-government approach to international trade compliance. Attendees included:
- Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law and Justice
- Tariq Bajwa, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister
- Ambassador Amna Baloch, Foreign Secretary
- Secretaries from the Ministries of Commerce, Interior, Overseas Pakistanis, and Human Rights
- Pakistan’s Ambassador to the EU and senior provincial representatives.
Synergy with Prime Minister’s Vision
This meeting follows recent diplomatic engagements by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who recently met with the EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis. The Prime Minister has previously reaffirmed that Pakistan is keen to expand cooperation with the EU across diverse sectors, including investment, security, migration, climate change, and development.
The Government of Pakistan remains dedicated to working closely with European partners to streamline trade initiatives that foster economic stability and align with international standards.
You May Like To Read:
