Qureshi urges action to protect Pakistan’s crucial EU trade status

LAHORE: Former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has warned that Pakistan could face the risk of losing the European Union’s GSP+ trade status if significant progress is not made on human rights, labour rights, and governance reforms.

In a statement issued through his lawyer from Kot Lakhpat Jail, PTI leader Qureshi said the European Union remains one of Pakistan’s most important trading partners.

He noted that Pakistan exported goods worth €8.7 billion to European countries in 2025, of which €7 billion benefited from the GSP+ preferential trade scheme. He said the European Union is pressing Pakistan to implement reforms in the areas of human rights, labour protections, and governance.

Qureshi pointed out that the current GSP+ arrangement is set to expire in 2027 and that securing the facility under the next framework will require compliance with even stricter conditions.

The former foreign minister said obtaining GSP+ status was not an easy achievement and required extensive diplomatic efforts. He claimed that contacts were made with former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to help build support for Pakistan among European countries.

According to Qureshi, former Punjab governor Chaudhry Sarwar and Pakistan’s textile exporters also played a significant role in securing the trade concession.

He stressed that concerns raised by the European Union regarding freedom of expression should be taken seriously. Qureshi said European circles are also concerned about criticism of Pakistan’s PECA law, which has been described by some journalist organizations as a “black law.”