EU's GSP+ mission arrives to assess implementation of 27 conventions.

ISLAMABAD -- A monitoring mission of the European Union's (EU) Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to assess the effective implementation of 27 international conventions, a press release issued by the EU mission in Islamabad said.

Pakistan joined the GSP+ scheme in 2014, which gave the country's products duty-free access to the European market.

Implementing the conditions is a prerequisite to getting eligibility to export goods to EU markets at zero duties for 66 per cent of tariff lines.

The conventions relate to human and labour rights, environmental protection, climate change and good governance.

The EU monitoring mission, comprising officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European CommiA!ssion's Directorates-General for Trade and for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, will make an assessment of the effective implementation of 27 international conventions that Pakistan is a signatory to. During its stay in Islamabad, the mission will hold meetings with the government, the United Nations country team, Inter-national Labour Organisation, business and civil society representatives and other stakeholders.

GSP+ provides wide-ranging tariff preferences for imports to the EU from vulnerable developing countries to support poverty eradication, sustainable development and their participation in the global economy as well as reinforce good governance.

The scheme has helped Pakistani businesses increase their exports to EU markets by 65 per cent since the country joined the scheme in 2014. The European Single Market, with over 440 million consumers, is Pakistan's most important destination. Pakistan's exports worth...