• Dar, bloc’s VP co-chair 7th Strategic Dialogue in Brussels
• Agree to strengthen cooperation under Strategic Engagement Plan
• Deputy PM says maritime threats both ‘multidimensional and transnational’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the European Union (EU) have underlined the importance of further deepening trade and investment ties, including through the bloc’s GSP+ scheme, as a driver for sustainable growth, export diversification, job creation and mutually beneficial economic opportunity, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday.

The development came as the 7th Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the EU was convened in the Belgian capital of Brussels. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and EU Vice President Kaja Kallas. A day earlier, Mr Dar addressed the 4th EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum Roundtable in Brussels.

The GSP+ status allows Pakistan to enjoy duty-free or minimum duty on European exports.

According to a FO statement, the meeting provided a “comprehensive review” of the full spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations, “building on the positive momentum of recent high-level engagements and sustained institutional interactions”.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a “broad-based, multidimensional and forward-looking partnership anchored in shared values, the UN Charter, multilateralism, and the principles of mutual respect and cooperation” during the meeting.

“The dialogue also offered an opportunity to exchange views on regional and global developments, including South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and broader geopolitical developments,” the FO said.

“Both sides underlined the importance of coordinated approaches to peace, stability, sustainable development, and global challenges such as climate change and connectivity,” it added.

Moreover, Pakistan and the EU agreed to strengthen cooperation under the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP 2019), advance work on ongoing dialogues, and identify concrete avenues to expand collaboration in the years ahead.

‘Maritime threats’

The deputy premier also delivered a statement on critical maritime security, noting that “today’s maritime threats are both multidimensional and transnational”.

“We face threats ranging from piracy, terrorism and trafficking of arms and narcotics, to cyber vulnerabilities at port infrastructure, marine pollution, and the growing climate-induced risks to coastal zones,” he was quoted as saying in an FO statement.

Mr Dar said Pakistan was a littoral state, one sharing the coastline with a particular sea or ocean, with a geostrategic location at the crossroads of key international sea lanes and the Arabian Sea as its “fifth neighbour”.

He continued that the Arabian Sea remained central to Pakistan’s national security, connectivity, economic resilience, food and energy security.

“From Karachi to Gwadar, our ports are gateways linking the landlocked heart of Central Asia to the global trading system. Pakistan, therefore, views maritime security and economic development as mutually reinforcing.”

He pointed out that stronger cooperation in the maritime domain, as well as awareness, information sharing, and early warning, was needed to address challenges.

The deputy premier said Pakistan believed that a maritime domain that was secure, resilient and also sustainable could be collectively built through mutual trust, transparency, and adherence to international law.

“First, to ensure that oceans remain spaces for cooperation and shared prosperity, we must look away from exclusionary or hegemonic arrangements in the maritime domain,” he elaborated.

“We must enhance cooperation under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as regional and bilateral legal instruments and customary international law. It is imperative to ensure the harmonious and judicious use of ocean resources as a common heritage of mankind.”

‘Peaceful means’

Mr Dar stressed the need to resolve maritime disputes through peaceful means, in line with international law.

He further said that connectivity must be combined with resilience and critical infrastructure should be developed through diversification addr­es­sing redundancy mechanisms.

“We must align best practices so that disruption in one region does not cascade globally.”

Third, he said maritime development must be anchored in international cooperation and technological solutions.

“Pakistan has strengthened its Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre, integrating satellite-based monitoring and AI-enabled vessel tracking with the support of Suparco [Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission]. We look forward to enhancing cooperation with our partners in this regard,” he added.

“Pakistan looks forward to deepening cooperation with the EU and partner countries in technology transfer, regulatory exchanges, and capacity-building for the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.”

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2025