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Pakistan’s exports to European Union countries may stay in a jeopardy zone in the time to come as the European Parliament passed a resolution asking the EU authorities to review GSP plus status as blasphemy cases are on the rise in the country.
The resolution was adopted just weeks after the government and the recently banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) brokered a concurrence to end the protest by the activists of the prescribed party that had paralyzed major cities which had caught international attention as the religiopolitical outfit led to a massive anti-France protest.
Approval of resolution and demands
The resolution, presented by Renew Europe, a liberal, pro-European political group, was adopted unanimously with 681 Member of European Parliaments (MEPs) voting in favor of this resolution while three against it.
The resolution also called on the Government of Pakistan to “unequivocally condemn” incitement to violence and discrimination against religious minorities in the country and expresses deep concern at the prevailing anti-French sentiment in Pakistan.
The EU Parliament calls for a review of Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of current events and whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of this status.
Member of European Parliament (MEP) Charlie Weimers of Sweden in his speech cited various incidents of members of religious minorities killed or imprisoned in Pakistan over accusations of blasphemy.
He said Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, rather than defend his citizens’ human rights against false accusers, equated denial of the Holocaust and genocide to criticism of Islam’s Prophet (PBUH).
What is GSP?
In 2014, Pakistan was granted trade concessions by the European Commission under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus, the GSP plus facility is available to Pakistan till 2022 and a review by the EU is to take place in January 2022 to decide if this facility is to continue or not, however, the European Parliament has called for immediate review.
The GSP+ is a special component of the GSP scheme that provides additional trade incentives to developing countries already benefitting from GSP. The GSP+ status granted to Pakistan requires the country to demonstrate progress on the implementation of 27 international core conventions.
Pakistani exports to the EU
According to business experts, of textile exports of $12 billion, the exports to EU countries stand at $6 billion and if this facility is introverted, the major indentation in exports will happen and in return, the industrial activities will plunge in the country which might cause to a new surge in unemployment.
The EU is Pakistan’s main trading collaborator, accounting for 13.1% of Pakistan’s total trade in 2016 and absorbing 22.9 % of Pakistan’s total exports.
The country’s exports to the EU are dominated by textiles and clothing, accounting for 83 % of Pakistan’s total exports to the EU in 2017. The country’s imports from the EU are mostly comprised of transport equipment and machinery and (40.2 percent in 2016) as well as chemicals (19.5 percent in the same period).
From 2005 to 2017, EU28 imports from Pakistan have approximately doubled from €2,319 to €7,273 million. The growth of imports from the country has been mainly fast since the award of GSP Plus (€6,514 million in 2014).
In 2018-19, Pakistan’s exports to the EU stayed at $8.932 billion while the import stood at $6.478 billion while the export to France in the same period was at $500 million. In 2019 to 2020, Pakistan’s exports to the EU were at $6.479 million and the imports stood at $5.167 million, according to the latest data.
Effective diplomatic endeavors need of the hour
Although the EU is right in saying that it is in Pakistan’s own interest to review laws, defend minorities and encourage tolerance, its parliament’s message to penalize the country scarcely addresses the issue.
In fact, far too many people have been wrongly accused and imprisoned for years pending a trial and, in some horrible cases, have been victims of vigilante violence.
Pakistani authorities should take steps to provide stronger punishment and quick justice for those who take the law into their own hands so religious extremism and misuse of blasphemy laws could be discouraged in the country.
On the other hand, Pakistani authorities are in contact with its representative in Brussels and an emergency meeting has been convened for Monday that will firm up the modus operandi on how to go about it and undertake the situation. Under EU GSP plus regime Pakistan is committed to fulfilling obligations and has made reliable progress in this regard.
We are confident that through continued effort and engagement, Pakistan would be able to resolve any mist and misgivings in this respect. The government should preempt the situation and come up with effective diplomatic endeavors to prevent any EU action against the GSP plus facility.
