Pakistan committed to closer EU ties, trade expansion under GSP+: PM

ISLAMABAD: Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, calls on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.

Talking to the ambassador, the prime minister said Pakistan is committed to working closely with the EU on mutually beneficial trade enhancement initiatives, especially through the GSP Plus.

Welcoming the EU Ambassador, who assumed his responsibilities in Pakistan only a few months ago, Sahrif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen cooperation with the EU in all areas of mutual interest, particularly trade, investment, development, security, migration and climate change.

READ MORE: Pakistan, EU vow deeper strategic partnership at 7th Brussels dialogue

He emphasized upon the critical role of the GSP Plus scheme in enhancing trade between Pakistan and the EU, and said the Government of Pakistan is committed to working closely with the EU on mutually beneficial trade enhancement initiatives, especially through the GSP Plus.

He also expressed satisfaction at the 7th round of Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue held in Brussels in November last year, where the Pakistan side was led by Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The EU Ambassador expressed his gratitude and deep appreciation to the prime minister for the warm welcome he had received since his arrival in the country and assured him that he would continue to work steadfastly to strengthen Pakistan-EU relations across all spheres.

He also conveyed the good wishes of the EU leadership to the Prime Minister and said that the EU would continue to engage closely with Pakistan on enhancing trade, under GSP Plus as well as through trade promotion activities such as the first ever EU-Pakistan Business Forum, that would be held in April this year.

The prime minister was assisted by Dar, Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Tauqir Shah, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and other senior officials.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026