• Brussels says fixing shortcomings essential to securing preferential access after revised rules take effect in 2027
• Notes ‘regression’ on enforced disappearances, freedom of expression and accountability for rights violations
• Credits Pakistan’s reform momentum on labour, torture prevention and domestic violence
ISLAMABAD: The European Union, which counts Pakistan among the top beneficiaries of its Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), said on Thursday that the country would have to overcome certain shortcomings in order to qualify under the revised framework.
The new preferential trade framework, which will take effect on Jan 1, 2027, requires all existing beneficiaries to reapply for the status under more stringent sustainability and governance requirements.
Although the European Commission’s latest report on the implementation of the GSP over the 2023-2025 period noted that Pakistan had made some positive changes, it also flagged certain “compliance issues with its GSP+ obligations”.
The latest assessment comes at a time when Pakistani exporters enjoy preferential access to the European market in return for implementing 27 international conventions covering human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, climate action and good governance.
In a Staff Working Document issued alongside the report submitted to the European Parliament, officials praised a number of legislative and administrative developments, saying that these need to be “translated into real improvements on the ground”.
It cited the legislation establishing a National Commission for Minorities, the narrowing of the scope of the death penalty, the continuation of the de facto moratorium on executions, the adoption of implementing rules under the Anti-Torture Act, the passage of a Domestic Violence Bill for Islamabad Capital Territory and the country’s first conviction for marital rape as notable positive developments.
The EU also praised the National Commission for Human Rights for emerging as an important institution in advancing Pakistan’s human rights obligations.
But looking ahead, the Commission said Pakistan’s continued access to the EU’s preferential trade regime would depend on tangible improvements in areas where concerns persisted.
“To ensure further GSP+ eligibility and compliance with international commitments, including in view of the revised GSP rules as of 2027, key priorities for future engagement include: ensuring accountability for human rights violations; increased efforts against torture; in prison and capital punishment reforms; reversing negative developments in relation to enforced disappearances and violations of freedom of expression,” the report emphasised.
Besides human rights, the report also reviewed Pakistan’s implementation of commitments relating to labour rights, environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development.
It also welcomed Pakistan’s ratification of the 2014 International Labour Organisation Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention and the expansion of labour inspection mechanisms, but said enforcement remained weak, forced labour continued to affect large numbers of workers and child labour was declining only gradually despite new provincial action plans.
However, the Commission’s assessment was dominated by concerns over the country’s human rights record in addition to recognising a number of positive legislative measures adopted during the reporting period.
It also said “significant concerns remained, generally impacting the rule of law and civil society space”, adding that “enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings increased, without accountability for perpetrators”.
The Commission also expressed concern over the deterioration in freedom of expression, saying amendments to cybercrime, anti-terrorism and blasphemy laws had introduced vague provisions that could be used against “dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, minorities and ordinary citizens”, exposing them to imprisonment, confiscation of assets or restrictions on foreign travel.
Media freedom, according to the report, continued to deteriorate despite the adoption of legislation for the protection of journalists, with members of the media facing intimidation, harassment, violence and strategic litigation for reporting on sensitive issues.
It further mentioned that recent constitutional amendments had been criticised for “further undermining judicial independence”, compounding longstanding concerns relating to fair trial guarantees and access to justice. The report, which the commission said was “shaped by persistent complaints about the integrity of the 2024 electoral process, harsh measures against opposition party leaders and supporters, and further increased military influence”, also touched upon the situation of political rights.
The report also devoted considerable attention to the issue of enforced disappearances, saying that reports continued to indicate a high and growing number of cases, particularly in Balochistan and KP, while the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had failed to establish accountability for perpetrators.
It also criticised the continued absence of legislation specifically criminalising enforced disappearances.
The European Commission acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in strengthening social protection, advancing prison reforms, introducing measures against gender based violence, expanding education initiatives and improving institutional mechanisms for the protection of human rights.
But it also highlighted continuing discrimination against religious minorities, persistent violence against women and children, high numbers of out-of-school children, child marriages, child labour, prison overcrowding and concerns over the treatment of Afghan refugees returned under Pakistan’s repatriation programme.
Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2026