Depts told to address EU concerns about GSP

LAHORE: Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar on Saturday asked all the departments concerned to properly address concerns of a mission of European Union (EU) over implementation of the GSP Plus conventions in Pakistan.

Presiding over a meeting he said it was important for Pakistan’s economy to fulfil the GSP Plus requirements. In the larger national interest, enforcement of the relevant laws must be ensured in the province, besides informing the federal government about the progress in this regard so that concerns of the European Union could be addressed, according to a handout issued here.

The human rights and minority affairs secretary said Punjab was continuously framing laws with regard to the implementation of international conventions. The federal and provincial governments were taking steps for actively implementing 27 conventions of GSP Plus but the European Union had expressed concerns on implementation of seven conventions.

The meeting reviewed steps being taken to protect human and women rights, and to eliminate child labour in the province.