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Pakistan's GSP+ Status at Risk Over Human Rights Concerns

Pakistan's GSP+ Status at Risk Over Human Rights Concerns
Global Watch | Pakistan's GSP+ Lifeline Faces Europe's Toughest Test Yet · news18.com

Pakistan has a special trade deal with the European Union called GSP+, which allows it to sell goods to the EU without paying tariffs.

This deal is very important for Pakistan because the EU buys a lot of its textiles and clothing.

However, the EU has recently said that Pakistan needs to make real improvements in human rights, such as stopping enforced disappearances and ensuring fair trials.

If Pakistan doesn't make these changes, it could lose this special trade deal, which would make it harder and more expensive to sell goods to the EU.

This could hurt Pakistan's economy, especially since many people rely on jobs in the textile industry.

The EU's report highlights both the progress Pakistan has made in passing new laws and the areas where it still needs to improve, like reducing child labor and protecting freedom of expression.

Key facts

GSP+ Exports to EU
EUR 7.5 billion in 2024
Tariff Savings
EUR 732 million in 2024
EU's Share of Pakistan's Exports
28%
Textiles and Clothing Share
70-76% of EU-bound exports
Enforced Disappearances in Balochistan (2025)
1,455 cases
Blasphemy Cases (Recent Year)
344 cases
Potential Tariff Burden Without GSP+
EUR 427 million to EUR 854 million annually
Poverty Rate in Pakistan (2025)
47.2%

Sources

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