The European Union’s recent evaluation of Pakistan’s trade benefits under the GSP Plus scheme has been likened to a detailed chargesheet, emphasizing the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. Pakistan’s democratic progress is now under increased global scrutiny, with future trade privileges potentially contingent on genuine institutional improvements rather than mere promises. The assessment, described as one of the most critical official reviews to date, sheds light on Pakistan’s democratic regression and human rights performance.
The EU’s GSP+ trade initiative has granted Pakistan preferential trade access since 2014, positioning it as the largest beneficiary. However, these trade advantages are conditional on Pakistan’s adherence to 27 international conventions encompassing human rights, labor standards, environmental conservation, and governance. This raises a crucial question about whether Pakistan can maintain its trade benefits while diverging from the program’s foundational standards.
The EU has outlined key reforms that Pakistan must prioritize, such as addressing enforced disappearances, bolstering judicial independence, enhancing prison conditions, safeguarding journalists, amending cybercrime and blasphemy laws, and ensuring accountability for human rights violations. This move reflects a broader trend in European trade policy, where market access privileges are increasingly tied to governance, sustainability, and compliance with global norms.
Pakistan’s access to the European market, which accounts for nearly 28% of its exports, faces potential jeopardy if it fails to meet the EU’s governance and human rights expectations. Any reduction in GSP+ benefits could significantly impact Pakistan’s export revenue, especially amid existing economic challenges. The EU has raised serious concerns about human rights abuses in Pakistan and has indicated that continued access to trade benefits under GSP+ hinges on compliance with international commitments by 2027.
