Pakistan Completes Fifth EU GSP+ Review Ahead of 2028 Reapplication

Pakistan has completed its fifth review under the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), with preparations underway for the country’s formal reapplication ahead of the December 31, 2028 deadline.

 

Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul said Pakistan had begun preparations for the reapplication process, describing GSP+ as an important component of Pakistan-EU economic relations. He said continued compliance with international commitments would be important as Pakistan transitions to the EU’s evolving regulatory framework.

 

Swedish Ambassador Alex Berg von Linde said strengthening Pakistan’s access to the GSP+ scheme and updating the existing Pakistan-Sweden Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) would remain key areas of economic engagement.

 

She said discussions were ongoing to modernise the bilateral investment treaty and noted that Pakistan had considerable potential to expand trade and investment ties with Sweden.

 

The ambassador stressed that greater use of these opportunities, particularly ahead of Pakistan’s next GSP+ application, would require continued progress on international commitments.

 

The comments were made at the launch of the Sweden–Pakistan Business Guide 2026–2028 in Islamabad. More than 40 Swedish companies currently operate in Pakistan, with bilateral cooperation expanding across areas including sustainable textiles, ICT and digitalisation, and responsible mining.