FPCCI lauds GSP+ for boosting exports

Atif Ikram Sheikh, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), praised the European Union's GSP+ scheme for lifting Pakistani exports to the bloc. According to Business Recorder, he said shipments to the EU have grown 108 percent over the past decade, a rise that he called a critical lifeline for the economy. He also thanked the EU and its mission in Pakistan for their ongoing cooperation.

Under the scheme, most Pakistani goods can reach European buyers without duty or at preferential rates, Sheikh added. He stressed that the framework gives businesses a significant export destination that reaches beyond traditional textiles. Looking ahead, he described the period up to 2029 as a key transition phase, given changing rules and rising compliance demands.

The FPCCI has called for enhanced government facilitation, awareness drives and incentives, plus task forces to help SMEs meet EU conventions on labour, human rights, environment and governance. It also asked for an end to bureaucratic delays and targeted incentives for textiles and other major sectors. Sheikh cautioned that, without structural changes, affordable energy and compliance help, Pakistan could lose access it has worked hard to build.