ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has emerged as the largest beneficiary of the European Union’s GSP+ trade programme, recording €7.5 billion in exports to the EU in 2024 under preferential tariffs, according to the 5th GSP report released on Thursday, which assesses the implementation of 27 core international conventions in beneficiary countries.
The report added that Pakistan also achieved an impressive utilization rate of over 95%, highlighting its effective use of trade benefits offered under the program.
The GSP+ agreement, which grants developing countries reduced or zero tariffs in return for progress in human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and good governance, has played an important role in boosting Pakistan’s export sector. The country outperformed other GSP+ members, with the Philippines and Sri Lanka lagging behind in terms of export value.
However, the European Union expressed “serious concerns” over the deteriorating implementation of human rights conventions, particularly in the areas of freedom of expression and media, extrajudicial killings and peaceful assembly, urging Pakistan to repeal or amend its laws, including Pakistan’s Electronic Crimes Act.
In its GSP+ monitoring report, the club of 27 countries asked Pakistan “to ensure greater eligibility for GSP+ and compliance with international commitments”, it must reverse the negative developments that occurred between 2023 and 2025.
“Serious concerns remain as significant systemic challenges persist in the implementation of human rights conventions, with a deterioration of the situation linked in particular to enforced disappearances, minority rights, media freedom and freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said the report published Thursday.
He adds that impunity for human rights violations remains a major concern.
The EU said Pakistan must take strong action to reverse negative trends linked to enforced disappearances and violations of freedom of expression. “In this regard, laws on blasphemy, cybercrime (such as PECA), defamation, counter-terrorism and sedition should be amended or repealed.”
The EU said that, taking into account revised GSP rules from 2027, key priorities for future engagement include ensuring accountability for human rights violations; increased efforts against torture; prison and capital punishment reforms; reverse negative developments in forced disappearances and violations of freedom of expression.
He also asked Pakistan to effectively combat violence against women; guarantee children’s access to education; end child marriage; effectively implement action plans newly established by provinces and territories to eliminate child labor; strengthen enforcement of existing laws against forced labor; limit discrimination against minorities; strengthen the independence, impartiality and operational capacity of anti-corruption agencies at the federal and provincial levels.
The report notes that during the 2023-2025 monitoring period, Pakistan faced challenges in meeting its GSP+ obligations. “The situation has regressed in a number of areas while positive changes have been limited.”
Pakistan has benefited from the EU’s special incentive scheme for sustainable development and good governance, known as GSP+ since 2014, remaining its largest beneficiary with €7.5 billion in GSP+ eligible exports to the EU in 2024. EU imports from Pakistan in 2022-2024 remained high, peaking at €9.4 billion in 2022 and then falling to €8.3 billion in 2024, reflecting a broader slowdown in the EU. request.
Pakistan remained the largest beneficiary of GSP+ and the EU its largest export market, accounting for 28% of its total exports, with textiles and clothing accounting for around 70-76% of the country’s exports to the EU in 2024.
The report further notes that significant concerns remain, generally affecting the rule of law and civil society space. Forced disappearances and extrajudicial executions have increased, without the perpetrators being held accountable.
The EU monitoring mission wrote that freedom of expression has deteriorated due to new amendments to laws on cybercrime, counter-terrorism and blasphemy, allowing the use of vague provisions against dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, minorities and ordinary citizens.
“This includes criminal and administrative proceedings which may result in imprisonment, financial forfeiture or refusal to travel abroad.”
He also said recent constitutional amendments have been criticized because they further undermine judicial independence. Added to this are problems such as obstacles to a fair trial and access to justice.
Political rights
The report says political rights are affected by, among other things, abusive legal proceedings and the detention of opposition supporters and leaders, including a former prime minister, with concerns over fair trial and detention conditions, including access to lawyers, visitors and medical assistance.
The EU said that during the 2023-25 reporting period, limitations on freedom of expression and access to information remained serious and persistent.
Despite the adoption of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, media freedom in Pakistan has further deteriorated, with the working environment for journalists becoming increasingly hostile and dangerous, including cases of intimidation, administrative and judicial harassment, and violence against journalists covering sensitive topics.
“Targeted litigation (strategic lawsuits against public participation”) is sometimes used to prevent journalists and lawyers from doing their jobs. Legislations such as the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and criminal laws on defamation, blasphemy, sedition and anti-terrorism contain vague concepts of hate speech, defamation, terrorism and fake news, it adds.
The EU said that without effective safeguards against abuse, the enforcement of these laws has a significant chilling effect on dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders and individuals belonging to ethnic or religious minorities. Internet connectivity was also frequently restricted, particularly around the 2024 elections and in Balochistan, as well as before and during protests, the report said.
Progress
The report also finds progress in some areas, but says this progress is “limited” compared to the deterioration.
Notable progress includes legislation to create a National Commission for Minorities, a reduction in the scope of the death penalty, the maintenance of the de facto moratorium on executions and the adoption of rules for implementing the anti-torture law, the statement added.
The death penalty was abolished for railway sabotage, drug crimes, harboring hijackers and undressing a woman in public. Other legislative advancements include a draft law on domestic violence in Islamabad. A first conviction for marital rape was an important step.
The National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR), along with the Ministries of Law and Justice and Human Rights, has become a key player in Pakistan’s efforts to respect, protect and fulfill its human rights obligations. Labor rights have advanced with the ratification of the 2014 ILO Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention, 1930 and the expansion of monitoring mechanisms, but enforcement remains weak overall.
New action plans to combat child labor have been adopted, but child labor rates are only slowly decreasing. In general, most progress is of a legislative and administrative nature and must translate into real improvements on the ground, according to the EU.
Pakistan’s fragile political structure, including the complex federal structure and imbalances between provinces, as well as the role of the military in politics and the economy, have created a significant challenge for the country’s development, as have growing security concerns arising from domestic militancy, terrorism as well as conflicts with neighboring countries.
The monitoring mission noted that Pakistan’s political landscape during the 2023-2025 monitoring cycle has been shaped by persistent complaints about the integrity of the 2024 election process, harsh measures against opposition party leaders and supporters, and increased military influence.
