Italian senators ask to cancel Pak's GSP Plus status

Italian Senators have urged their Senate not to support Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) plus, which was given to Pakistan and is up for renewal.

In a question raised to the Italian Minister of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Economic Development, a group of Senators have demanded to block support for Pakistan's attempts to renew its GSP plus status in the European Union.

"Due to the GSP Plus the Italian textile industry has been hit and Pakistan does not respect the protection of women," the European Organization for Pakistan Minorities (EOPN), stated Senators as saying in a statement.

The leaders have also labelled Pakistan as the cradle of international terrorism.

"The question raised mentioned that the GSP Plus status of Pakistan should not be renewed until they fulfil the basic human rights of all and stop all atrocities and persecution against Christians in the country," the statement added.

European Union (EU) granted GSP Plus status to Pakistan in 2013, which made Pakistani products duty-free in the European market.

The special status allowed almost 20 percent of Pakistani exports to enter the EU market at zero tariff and 70 percent at preferential rates.

More than 80% of Pakistan's exports to the EU consist of textile and clothing.