Pakistan Faces GSP+ Status Risk Due to Human Rights Issues, Governance Concerns

Former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Warns of EU Trade Status Risk

In a statement issued through his lawyer, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has warned that Pakistan could lose its European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade status if significant progress is not made on human rights, labor rights, and governance reforms.

The GSP+ arrangement allows Pakistan to export goods worth €8.7 billion to EU countries in 2025, with €7 billion benefiting from the preferential trade scheme. The current GSP+ deal expires in 2027, and securing it under the next framework will require compliance with even stricter conditions, according to Qureshi.

The European Union is pressing Pakistan for reforms in human rights, labor protections, and governance. Concerns raised by EU regarding freedom of expression have been taken seriously, as well as criticism of Pakistan’s PECA law, described by some journalist organizations as a “black law.”

Qureshi emphasized that petitions related to judicial independence, allegations of enforced disappearances, and governance challenges also drew the attention of the European Union. He urged the government to address these issues promptly to prevent losing GSP+ trade privileges.