Pakistan: PM calls upon EC for passage of EU’s Trade Concessions Package in WTO

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday called upon the European Commission to formally take up the case for passage of EU’s Trade Concessions Package in WTO in its upcoming session on January 31 and persuade India to give up its resistance towards the package.

The Prime Minister was talking to Ambassador Jan De Kok, the outgoing head of European Commission delegation in Pakistan, who paid a farewell call on the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister House.

Prime Minister Gilani exhorted upon EU to push forward the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus  as it would help Pakistan to stabilize its macro-economic framework and job creation.

While recalling his first meeting with Ambassador Jan De Kok in 2008 the Prime Minister expressed gratitude that EU stood up to his call and played a major role in ensuring fair and free outcome of the General Elections 2008.

The Prime Minister also conveyed gratitude of his government for EU’s humanitarian contribution of Euro 150 million to flood victims in Pakistan and hoped that EU will continue to assist Pakistan in Multiple Indicative Programme and for fast track disbursement of the assistance pledged at the Tokyo Donors Conference for the social sector development in the country.

While congratulating Ambassador Kok on successful conclusion of his tenure in Islamabad, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that he will continue to contribute towards strengthening of Pakistan-EU relationships in his future capacity as EU DG of Development Cooperation in Brussels.

Ambassador Kok termed the Prime Minister as a “Man of Consensus” and lauded his keen and swift approach for harmonizing divergent opinion.

He apprised the Prime Minister that there was a strong realization in Brussels on the importance of regular summit level dialogue between Pakistan and EU and it will hopefully be formalized through next Summit meeting. 

He assured the Prime Minister that European Commission will take up the case for passage of EU’s Trade Concessions Package to Pakistan, with all those countries which so far have not come on board at WTO.

He expressed with confidence that the EU Headquarters in Brussels and its Missions in Geneva will pursue this matter forcefully with them.

Ambassador Kok said it was in line with Prime Minister Gilani’s request that EU had arranged Election Observers to monitor the 2008 general elections in Pakistan and has since supported the institutionalization of democratic system in the country.

Ambassador Kok, while reminiscing about his stay in the country, described Pakistan of today as very different from that of four years ago.

He said, Pakistan of today was a bastion of democracy and pluralism. He also lauded Pakistan’s role in the war against terror and agreed with Prime Minister Gilani’s assertion that Pakistan has the will and resolve to pursue war on terror but its capacity needs to be augmented and pledged full support of EU.

The Prime Minister while commending Ambassador Kok’s contribution for strengthening of democracy in Pakistan and for upgradation of Pakistan-EU relations to the Summit Level called for institutionalized Summit Level interaction between Pakistan and EU.