THE European Union granting Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus status to Pakistan is a big achievement for the country.

The programme’s long-term success is linked to the ratification and the implementation of 27 international conventions in areas such as human rights, labour standards, environment and good governance. It is now for the government to implement these conventions as they will be strictly monitored by the EU.

Many of these conventions benefit our country. Issues such as human rights, child labour, labour standards, environment and good governance are areas ignored by almost every government.

It seems our leaders, most of whom are feudals and industrialists, will finally have to work on resolving these issues if they want to continue and expand their businesses.

Thus the common man should thank the European Union for providing them a chance to become prosperous.

Naseeb Ullah Kakar

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2014