KARACHI, March 31: Monsieur Jean Yves Berthault, Consul General of French Republic, said on Thursday that there had been no bias against Pakistan that could not qualify for GSP Plus only because it had not ratified some of the world conventions.

He said countries like India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had entered into negotiations with the European Union after ratifying all the conventions committed by them and only then they were able to qualify under GSP Plus.

Addressing members of the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), the French envoy said the government of Pakistan had ratified some of 17 international conventions but critical ones are yet to be rectified. “Even an important convention prohibiting child labour in the industrial sector has not been ratified.”

Mr Berthault said even legislation had not been done in time and that compelled the European Union not to include Pakistan in the GSP Plus scheme. In reply to a query, the French envoy said: “We know that no child labour is going on in Pakistan but you have to understand that this is a legal requirement and it has to be fulfilled.”

He said the law and order situation had improved and the city of Karachi was now leading a normal life but Pakistan still faced an image problem in the West. The French envoy suggested that Pakistan should do a lot to improve its image and this could be done at official as well as individual levels.

Responding to another question, he said that he could not force any French businessman to come to Pakistan but could approach trade bodies and informed them about investment opportunities in Pakistan. He said that there was no problem of visa for the businessmen who got three years multiple visa.

Earlier, PHMA Chairman Aslam Ahmed Karsaz presented Pakistan’s case through slide show, elaborating upon the effects of withdrawal of the GSP scheme for Pakistan. He pointed out: “Our exports of knitted apparels have become uncompetitive in the EU market due to the expiry of GSP, causing a large number of factories closing down and rendering hundreds of thousands of workers jobless.

Mr Karsaz said that Pakistan should be allowed the GSP Plus scheme to improve the market access to the EU.