EU urged to continue GSP Plus status for Pakistan

HYDERABAD: The speakers at a seminar on GSP Plus on Friday urged the European Union to continue the status for Pakistan, as the scheme was significantly contributing in the economy as well as providing opportunity to promote human rights in the country.

They also asked the government of Pakistan to announce serious reforms in the field of human rights, labour rights, environmental rights and good governance ahead of EU's first review of the scheme due next month.

These demands were made at an awareness seminar organised by Democracy Reporting International (DRI) on Friday .

The speakers included political intellectuals, civil society members, human rights and minority rights activists, media, and writers. 

Zulfiqar Shah, Team Leader DRI, in his detailed presentation said that GSP Plus was an opportunity for Pakistan to enhance its trade and improve the situation of human rights. He informed there has been 33 percent increase in Pakistan's exports to EU during the last year and a half and there is huge potential to further increase the exports. However, it is important that Pakistan meets conditionality requirements. Pakistan's first review of GSP+ was coming up in January 2016, he added.

Pakistan government has already ratified 27 International Conventions which were part of EU's GSP+ conditionality on governance, exploitation, political victimisation, and law and order situation as per trade deal to enter the EU markets.

Shah said Pakistan's performance on compliance under GSP+ would be reviewed bi-annually by EU, covering all the obligations to continue trade. He lauded the establishment of Treaty Implementation Cells (TICs) and National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), but called for coordination and collaboration among different stakeholders.

Punhal Sario of Sindh Hari Porhiat Council talked about the status of rights of labour and the government needs to address minimum wages, menace of child labour, violation of minority rights, and political victimisation.

He said only one percent workers were linked to trade unions, while 99 percent were not allowed to form unions. They cannot have access to their rights at any forum, despite the fact it is guaranteed in the constitution.

Zulfiqar Halepoto, a renowned writer and human rights activist, said since now the international checks have increased, civil society should take a step ahead to understand it.

Pushpa Kumari of Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network and minority rights activist quoted seven conventions to protect the rights of marginalised communities. She pointed out that some reports were still due in case of Pakistan to cover the issues as per the EU conditions. She shared her understanding of minority issues and vulnerable communities, saying even budget allocations do not have incentives for these marginalised communities.

Mustafa Baloch, Regional Head, Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) said despite some dark sides, there was a  bright side, in which exporters and industries have been forced to stop exploitation and end child labour in their industrial units. He gave the example of Sialkot, where due to the EU conditions; the practise of child labour in the sports industry was abandoned. He called privatisation and corporatisation the dark sides of the situation.

He said since the government was promoting corporate farming, local farmers were being pushed to stay idle at homes without job.

At the end of the seminar a declaration was adopted calling for continuation of GSP+ facility and also urging the government of Pakistan to immediately improve the situation of rights in areas such as minority rights, labour rights, freedom of expression and association.

The declaration also called for stopping current onslaught against civil society and urged for consultative process in state reporting on UN conventions.

Others who spoke on the occasion include SAFWCO’s Suleman Abro, Advocate Altaf Chandio, HRCP Regional Head Dr Ashothama, and Hyderabad Press Club former president Ishaq Mangrio.