A delegation comprising five Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from the Committee on Development (DEVE) recently conducted an official visit to Pakistan to assess the European Union’s support aimed at enhancing the country’s resilience to climate-related challenges, as well as its social and economic development.
The delegation was led by Lukas Mandl (EPP, Austria) and included Robert Biedroń (S&D, Poland), who serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee. During their engagement in Islamabad, the MEPs held discussions with several officials, including the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Minister of Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, and Senator Sherry Rehman, who is the Chair of the Committee on Climate Change and the leader of the governing Pakistan People’s Party. Furthermore, the delegation convened with representatives from the United Nations, local civil society organisations, ambassadors from EU member states, and various development agencies.
The discourse encompassed several critical issues, including the advancement of women’s rights, private sector development, and Pakistan’s efforts to meet the requirements of the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) tariff-free trade regime. Compliance with this regime is crucial for aligning with international labour and human rights standards, environmental protection measures, and principles of good governance.
The MEPs were informed about Pakistan’s ongoing endeavours, as well as the challenges it faces in improving the investment climate, implementing international human rights standards, alleviating poverty, and improving the circumstances of minorities and women.
The delegation emphasised the imperative for enacting appropriate legislative measures to sustain Pakistan’s GSP+ beneficiary status, particularly in view of a potential renewal of these trade preferences.
Moreover, the delegation addressed the pressing circumstances concerning the estimated 1.5 million Afghan refugees within Pakistan and the complexities surrounding their repatriation, particularly amidst escalating tensions with the Taliban in bordering regions.
Following their engagements in Islamabad, the delegation proceeded to Sindh Province, where they interacted with local authorities, humanitarian partners, and communities affected by the severe floods of 2022. During this segment of their visit, they observed ongoing reconstruction efforts and EU-supported initiatives aimed at bolstering disaster preparedness and resilience in response to increasingly severe and recurrent climatic events.
On their concluding day, the MEPs had the opportunity to meet with a small-scale dairy producer who had successfully expanded her micro-enterprise after receiving financial assistance and training. They also visited a tissue culture laboratory that specialises in breeding and selling banana seedlings exhibiting increased resistance to pests.
Additionally, the MEPs conducted a tour of a rural village undergoing rehabilitation, which included enhancements to fundamental services such as potable water, drainage systems, and sanitation facilities, following the devastating floods of 2022.
Concluding the mission, delegation lead Lukas Mandl said: “During our visit, we were able to have very open discussions with our counterparts in Pakistan about the challenges and problems the country faces. I appreciated the very insightful encounters with EU member state representatives and other EU actors in Pakistan. We were happy to see that EU funding is contributing to the scaling up of local SMEs, and to empower people to be actors for the sustainable development and stability of Pakistan. We saw that locally owned private enterprises can make a real difference with scaled-up technology, and better equipment. We witnessed EU funded projects in Pakistan creating employment, improving food security and supporting the resilience of local people, building on their own capacities and aspirations.”
