Indian news item on Pak GSP Plus status baseless: FO

ISLAMABAD: Responding to media queries regarding report by an Indian news agency speculating withdrawal of Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the news item is fabricated and a continuation of the India’s malicious propaganda against Pakistan.

“India’s malicious smear campaign against Pakistan is well-known and independent organisations including EU DisinfoLab have established India’s credentials as purveyor of anti-Pakistan propaganda globally,” he said.

“Even after India’s disinformation campaign being unearthed globally, Indian state and obliging Indian media remain busy in concocting baseless stories against Pakistan. The recent rumours are yet another demonstration of India’s nefarious designs,” he said.

The spokesman said Pakistan and the European Union (EU) maintain close high-level engagement through multiple dialogue mechanisms, and Pakistan remains committed to full implementation of the 27 International Conventions related to the GSP Plus.

“Pakistan has successfully completed three biennial reviews of GSP Plus and the fourth biennial review is currently underway,” he said. “Currently, the European Parliament is on summer recess till autumn and there has been no discussion on Pakistan since April 2021,” he said.