National Report on GSP+ launched

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development Jawad Sohrab Malik has assured International Labour Organization (ILO) and European Union (EU) that Pakistan is resolute to fulfill its commitments with regard to compliance of fundamental labour standards which include elimination child & forced labour, freedom of association and gender discrimination.

He was speaking as a Chief Guest at the launch of National Report on the General Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) at Marriott Hotel Islamabad organized by Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development with the support of ILO and EU.

The SAPM on OP&HRD Jawad Sohrab Malik reiterated that we are cognizant of the challenges concerning labour rights and committed to overcoming them.

Pakistan is on a journey to becoming an ethical and responsive global partner and the GSP+ is a critical part of that journey to which we remain fully dedicated, he added. He also emphasized for close cooperation and coordination amongst all partners to comply with international convention of labour rights successfully for uninterrupted benefits from the GSP+ status which is imperative for export of our goods to EU countries.

The GSP+ is a special incentive arrangement by the European Union for sustainable development and good governance that supports venerable development countries.
Countries grated GSP+ status are required to ratify and compliance with 27 international conventions including labour rights and the Pakistan has already ratified all these 27 core international conventions. This has enabled Pakistan to export goods to the European Union while benefiting from reduced or zero import duties.

The event was attended by Geir Tonstol, ILO Country Director for Pakistan, and Dr. Stephen Langrell, Head of Rural Development and Economic Cooperation of EU Delegation to Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, the Country Director ILO to Pakistan assured to providing technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan in undertaking the required reforms to meet GSP+ conditionalities.

The senior officers of Federal Government Ministries and officers of the concerned provincial governments also attended the event.