ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was the largest beneficiary of the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) in 2024, with exports worth €7.1 billion qualifying under the preferential trade program, according to the European Commission’s latest GSP report.
The report said Pakistan utilized 95.1% of the available GSP+ preferences, the highest rate among all participating countries, making it the leading exporter under the scheme.
The European Union acknowledged Pakistan’s progress in several areas of governance and human rights, including the adoption of implementing rules for anti-torture legislation, new laws to curb child marriage in Balochistan and Islamabad, and measures to reduce the scope of the death penalty.
The report also recognized Pakistan’s ratification of the International Labour Organization’s protocol on forced labor and efforts to formalize workers in the informal economy.
The report further highlighted Pakistan’s policy measures to combat corruption but noted that challenges remain regarding judicial independence, freedom of expression and media freedom. It also called for additional efforts to eliminate violence against women, child labor and forced labor.
Under the EU’s revised GSP framework, Pakistan and other current GSP+ beneficiaries will be required to reapply for the scheme in 2027.
Existing beneficiaries will continue receiving transitional access until the end of 2028, while the report noted that natural disasters had slowed the implementation of some GSP+ reforms in Pakistan.