Home World Live International Crisis EU emphasizes that Pakistan’s beneficial trade status hinges on advancements in human rights and media liberties.

EU emphasizes that Pakistan’s beneficial trade status hinges on advancements in human rights and media liberties.

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ISLAMABAD — On Friday, the European Union issued a caution to Pakistan regarding its status as a duty-free trade partner, indicating that this status hinges on significant advancements in addressing issues related to civil rights, labor rights, and freedom of speech.

This alert was made after Olof Skoog, the EU’s special representative for human rights, concluded his visit to Islamabad aimed at discussing critical human rights and labor rights challenges while assessing Pakistan’s strategies to tackle these concerns. The EU emphasized that the benefits of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) are contingent upon tangible improvements in various areas, particularly human rights.

Since the implementation of GSP+ in 2014, Pakistan has seen its exports to Europe more than double, making it the largest beneficiary of these trade privileges. The EU highlighted that exports from Pakistan to the EU market have surged by 108% since the scheme’s inception, underscoring the importance of continuous progress as Pakistan prepares for its reapplication under the anticipated new regulations for GSP+.

During his visit, Skoog pointed out various alarming issues, including the nation’s blasphemy laws, the rights of women, the prevalence of forced marriages and conversions, enforced disappearances, and the diminishing freedoms of expression, religion, and belief. Additional concerns raised included media independence, the prevalence of impunity for human rights violations, the right to due process and a fair trial, civic engagement, and the use of the death penalty.

The EU’s warning comes shortly after the Pakistani parliament passed controversial legislation that critics claim aims to curtail freedom of expression. This law, now signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, grants the government sweeping powers to impose hefty fines and imprison social media users accused of spreading disinformation. In response, journalists across the nation staged protests, pledging to resist any attempts to undermine their right to free speech.

In recent years, Pakistan’s media landscape has increasingly faced restrictions. However, the government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, contends that the new law is a necessary measure to curb the spread of false information, particularly from anti-state groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and various separatist factions.

Additionally, a military report confirmed that security forces managed to eliminate ten militants during four distinct operations across the turbulent northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan.