Don’t take GSP+ for granted, warns EU envoy
The European Union has warned Pakistan not to take its GSP+ status for granted. Olof Skoog, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights who is currently on a week-long visit to Pakistan, has also urged the government not to use military courts to pursue cases against citizens, and opposed recent moves to restrict freedom of expression. Talking to Dawn, he said he had conveyed these messages in separate meetings with top government functionaries, including the army chief, chief justice and members of the federal cabinet. The focus of his visit is to engage with the government on pressing human rights issues, and learn about Pakistan’s plans to address them ahead of the upcoming GSP+ monitoring mission, due in June 2025.