Pakistan to Strengthen Partnership with EU, Says Prime Minister
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the European Union, with a particular focus on expanding trade relations through the GSP Plus framework, during a meeting with H.E. Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan.
The EU envoy, who assumed his diplomatic responsibilities in Islamabad only a few months ago, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister’s House. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
Welcoming Ambassador Karoblis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined Pakistan’s resolve to further deepen cooperation with the European Union across a broad range of sectors, including trade, investment, development, security, migration, and climate change. He described the EU as an important strategic partner and stressed the importance of sustained engagement to advance shared interests.
The Prime Minister placed particular emphasis on the significance of the GSP Plus scheme, describing it as a critical driver of enhanced trade between Pakistan and the EU. He stated that the government remained fully committed to working closely with European partners on mutually beneficial trade initiatives, especially through the GSP Plus mechanism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the 7th round of the Pakistan–EU Strategic Dialogue, held in Brussels in November last year, which was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on behalf of Pakistan. He said the dialogue reflected the maturity and depth of Pakistan–EU relations and provided a strong foundation for future cooperation.
In response, Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis conveyed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the warm welcome he has received since arriving in Pakistan. He expressed deep appreciation for the hospitality extended to him and reaffirmed his commitment to working diligently to further strengthen Pakistan–EU relations across all spheres of engagement.
The EU ambassador also conveyed the good wishes of the European Union’s leadership to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and reiterated the EU’s intention to continue close engagement with Pakistan on trade development. He highlighted continued cooperation under the GSP Plus framework and pointed to trade promotion initiatives, including the first-ever EU–Pakistan Business Forum, scheduled to be held in April this year, as important platforms for expanding commercial and economic ties.
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