The European Union’s mission in Islamabad denied any “official communication” with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding the revocation of Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status of the country, reported media houses citing a foreign publication.
The EU mission’s statement came after Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday accused the Imran Khan founded party of approaching the EU for the withdrawal of Pakistan’s GSP+ status over claims of lack of facilities for the former premier in Adiala jail.
The GSP+ status is a special trade arrangement offered to developing economies in return for their commitment to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, environmental protection and governance.
“We have not received any official communication from PTI regarding GSP+,” EU Press and Information Officer in Islamabad, Samar Saeed Akhtar, told Arab News.
Meanwhile, the former ruling party also denied writing any letter to the EU, rejecting the allegations levelled by the information minister on Pakistan’s GSP+ status.
“During a recent visit, both EU and Commonwealth delegations met with various political parties, including PTI and no other engagement with the EU took place than this,” PTI spokesperson Raoof Hassan said.
The allegation by the government of the PTI approaching the EU comes days after the PTI approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
PTI founder Imran Khan had sent a letter to the IMF to audit the general elections held on February 8, alleging that the polls were rigged by the now-ruling government.
The government criticised the letter, saying that it was an attack on Pakistan’s efforts to achieve economic stability.
The global lender has been holding talks with Pakistan over the second and last review of $3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA) this week during which the inflation-hit country will ask for a new longer-term bailout.
The review began on Thursday and if successful, the IMF will release a final tranche of around $1.1 billion under a last-gasp rescue package last summer.
