Implementation of various laws must for Pakistan to avail GSP Plus status: EU envoy
Islamabad: European Union (EU) Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis has said that Pakistan would have to show progress on implementation and legislation of various laws and conventions necessary for availing GSP Plus status.
The EU ambassador stated this in a discussion with the leadership of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) in Lahore on Friday to strategise ways and means for extension of GPS Plus beyond 2027.
He urged business community in general and the exporters in particular to adopt immediate measures for implementation of the requisite conventions and to engage with the government with reference to the concerns of the European Union Commission especially those relating to human and labour rights, governance and environment issues to facilitate the path for future extension of GSP Plus for the next ten years. The ambassador appreciated the textile industry for complying with the sustainability issues.
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Kamran Arshad Chairman APTMA said EU is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and the facility of GSP Plus has enabled Pakistan’s textile industry to compete in the region. He said that GPS Plus has enabled Pakistan to export 78 percent of its products with duty free status in EU countries and eventually enhance its share in exports to EU, which has ultimately led to more employment, investment and technology upgradation besides encouraging foreign investment in Pakistan.
Kamran said the facility has played a huge role in Pakistan’s targeting to a Green Future and Zero Carbon emission, as several textile companies are expected to achieve zero net carbon emission by 2050.
Stressing on continuation of GSP plus facility until the economic stability of Pakistan, Chairman APTMA said the country’s exports can reap further benefits from the facility through further diversification. He apprehended that withdrawal of GSP Plus will plummet Pakistan’s exports besides removing edge and competitiveness over its competitors. The industry will suffer loss of not less than one trillion rupees per annum and will also be exposed to massive unemployment, large scale closure of mills and increase in poverty.
Asad Shafi Chairman North told the visiting EU Ambassador that the textile industry has imported textile machinery from the EU member countries under its expansion plan worth billions of dollars. He hoped that GSP Plus facility will be extended in future to help Pakistan in poverty alleviation and improvement of take home salaries of workers due to enhancement of their skill. He urged the ambassador to facilitate in early finalization of FTA between Pakistan and EU on the pattern of India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before any withdrawal of GPS Plus.
