ISLAMABAD: Italy on Tuesday raised critical questions on the unsatisfactory measures taken by Pakistan on the issue of human rights, and suggested to the European Union (EU) to suspend Pakistan’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) plus status until it stops the persecution of minorities in its own backyard.
According to details, the Italian senators raised questions regarding Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding human rights and called for suspension of the country’s GSP plus status. The senators demanded that Pakistan should stop persecuting children, women and minorities.
Members of the Italian Senate Domenico De Saino, Franco Cardiello, Enzo Fasano, Cosimo Sibilla and Domenico Auricchio placed a question before Italy’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Economic Development minister, asking him to block support for Pakistan’s attempts to renew its GSP plus status in EU.
The senators criticised Pakistan for being the cradle of international terrorism, adding that due to the GSP plus status accorded to the country, the Italian textile industry had been hit hard.
They were of the view that Pakistan’s GSP plus status should not be renewed until they fulfilled their responsibility towards safeguarding human rights and stop the persecution of underprivileged groups in the country.
It is pertinent to mention that Italy is the second largest country in Europe that provided free trade access to Pakistani products under GSP plus. The current bilateral trade volume between the two countries had risen up by $1.5 billion during the current fiscal year.