Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to EU Trade Relations Under GSP Plus Framework

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening trade and economic ties with the European Union (EU), with a particular focus on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) framework. The reaffirmation came during a meeting with EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, who assumed her responsibilities earlier this year.

During the meeting, the prime minister emphasized Pakistan’s dedication to expanding cooperation with the EU across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, development, security, migration, and climate change. He underlined the importance of the GSP Plus scheme as a key driver of bilateral trade, noting that close collaboration under this framework can yield mutually beneficial outcomes for both Pakistan and the European Union.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved during the seventh round of the Pakistan-European Union Strategic Dialogue held in Brussels last November. He highlighted the government’s focus on leveraging multilateral engagements to strengthen institutional, economic, and policy cooperation with the EU.

In response, Ambassador Karoblis assured continued support and active engagement in enhancing Pakistan-EU relations across all sectors. The EU envoy emphasized the importance of maintaining robust communication channels and collaboration to address emerging trade, investment, and development opportunities.

This meeting underscores Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to sustain and expand trade relations with key international partners, while ensuring that bilateral frameworks like GSP Plus remain effective tools for economic growth and mutual prosperity. Both sides reiterated their commitment to fostering a cooperative and productive partnership, reflecting shared priorities in trade, sustainable development, and regional stability.