LAHORE/Karachi - Terming market access under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP Plus) a great achievement for the country, Governor Punjab Ch Muhammad Sarwar has said that it will help in providing jobs to youth besides earning foreign exchange for the country.
He was addressing 2nd regional seminar on “Corporate Social Responsibility – A Promise of Rural Development and Service Delivery” organised by National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) in collaboration with Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Human Development Foundation (HDF), here at a local hotel on Friday.
The Governor recalled that there had been stiff resistance from various countries about giving access to products from Pakistan. Several EU states have raised issues about terrorism, women and workers rights. However, we told them that over 50,000 people sacrificed their lives during ongoing war on terrorism. The overall financial impact of this war has been calculated at $80 billion. We tried to convince them that market access was immensely important for country like Pakistan. The jobs created as a result of this market opening would help in provision of employment opportunities to the youth and women.
Governor said he was not so hopeful about getting access under GPS Plus. However, we managed a win with a margin of one vote.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association has greatly lauded the decision of European Union Parliament’s International Trade Committee to grant GSP plus to Pakistan.
In a joint statement Shahzad Azam Khan, Central Chairman, M. Jawed Bilwani, Chairman, Pakistan Apparel Forum; Kamran Chandna, Chairman, PAKSEA and Khwaja M. Usman, Chairman, PCFA hoped that this would boost the exports of the value-added textile sector and create job opportunities.
They urged the European Parliament’s plenary session meeting during second week of December, 2013 to finally pass the resolution in favour of Pakistan which is a frontline state and ally of the US and EU in its fight against terrorism.
However they said that it was important to note that the GSP plus status if granted in the European Parliament’s plenary session to be held on December 10, 2013 would require our Government to implement all the 27 international conventions on human rights, labor standard, environment and good governance as well as carry out complete homework in the matter, otherwise Pakistan will be a great loser like in the case of Duty Free Access for 75 items.
As far as GSP plus is concerned, they said, it was important to consider the condition that the export market share of any product should not exceed the 6pc ceiling of import of European Union. They further pointed out that most of the textile items included in the list of GSP plus items have already crossed the 6pc ceiling set by the GSP plus condition.
They said exporters from various industries in Pakistan are expecting the GSP Plus access to European markets, which promise huge potential for multiplying the country’s current exports and appealed to the concerned authorities to be vary and strictly comply with all the requirements of GSP Plus.
He was addressing 2nd regional seminar on “Corporate Social Responsibility – A Promise of Rural Development and Service Delivery” organised by National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) in collaboration with Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Human Development Foundation (HDF), here at a local hotel on Friday.
The Governor recalled that there had been stiff resistance from various countries about giving access to products from Pakistan. Several EU states have raised issues about terrorism, women and workers rights. However, we told them that over 50,000 people sacrificed their lives during ongoing war on terrorism. The overall financial impact of this war has been calculated at $80 billion. We tried to convince them that market access was immensely important for country like Pakistan. The jobs created as a result of this market opening would help in provision of employment opportunities to the youth and women.
Governor said he was not so hopeful about getting access under GPS Plus. However, we managed a win with a margin of one vote.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association has greatly lauded the decision of European Union Parliament’s International Trade Committee to grant GSP plus to Pakistan.
In a joint statement Shahzad Azam Khan, Central Chairman, M. Jawed Bilwani, Chairman, Pakistan Apparel Forum; Kamran Chandna, Chairman, PAKSEA and Khwaja M. Usman, Chairman, PCFA hoped that this would boost the exports of the value-added textile sector and create job opportunities.
They urged the European Parliament’s plenary session meeting during second week of December, 2013 to finally pass the resolution in favour of Pakistan which is a frontline state and ally of the US and EU in its fight against terrorism.
However they said that it was important to note that the GSP plus status if granted in the European Parliament’s plenary session to be held on December 10, 2013 would require our Government to implement all the 27 international conventions on human rights, labor standard, environment and good governance as well as carry out complete homework in the matter, otherwise Pakistan will be a great loser like in the case of Duty Free Access for 75 items.
As far as GSP plus is concerned, they said, it was important to consider the condition that the export market share of any product should not exceed the 6pc ceiling of import of European Union. They further pointed out that most of the textile items included in the list of GSP plus items have already crossed the 6pc ceiling set by the GSP plus condition.
They said exporters from various industries in Pakistan are expecting the GSP Plus access to European markets, which promise huge potential for multiplying the country’s current exports and appealed to the concerned authorities to be vary and strictly comply with all the requirements of GSP Plus.
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