Dar stresses GSP+ importance in UNGA meeting with EU
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also called for return to dialogue and full implementation of the Islamabad MoU during talks with Kaja Kallas.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday and stressed that the GSP+ trade preference scheme remains central to Pakistan's trade and economic ties with the bloc, according to a Foreign Office statement.
Dar highlighted the importance Pakistan attaches to its partnership with the European Union, particularly in trade and economic cooperation, and appreciated the EU's constructive engagement with Pakistan during recent regional developments. He also emphasised the need to return to diplomacy and ensure full implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by all parties. The two sides agreed to maintain close engagement on issues of mutual interest and exchanged views on regional and global developments.
Geo News reported that the meeting built on Kallas's visit to Pakistan in August 2026, when she described Pakistan as a "major regional power" and an important partner for the EU. During that visit, Kallas noted that the EU remains Pakistan's largest export destination, larger than China and the United States combined, and that Pakistan is the world's leading beneficiary of EU trade preferences under GSP+. She also stressed that GSP+ carries conditions, including progress on international conventions on governance, environmental protection, labour rights and human rights.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in New York on Monday to attend the UNGA session, his office said. He was received by Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, and is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 25.
Separately, Geo News reported that Dar met French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot on the UNGA sidelines. The two reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional and global developments, including the Palestinian issue and the situation concerning Iran. Dar appreciated France's support for a two-state solution and its decision to restrict imports from Israeli settlements. Both sides underlined the importance of implementing the Islamabad MoU, ensuring the safety and free flow of maritime traffic, and uninterrupted energy supplies.
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