The Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status for Pakistan has started delivering amid growing exports to the European Union by 82% whereas the trade incentive scheme would be revised soon with an increase in demand on compliance of international conventions. Dr. Stephen Langrell, Head of Rural Development and Economic Cooperation, European Union Delegation, made these remarks at a seminar highlighting green practices in Pakistan’s industrial sector, reports WealthPK.

The European Union (EU) has been supporting sustainable and green inclusive growth in Pakistan through its project titled International Labour and Environmental Standards Application in Pakistan’s SMEs (ILES) which is being jointly implemented by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan) and International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2016. Each year, the EU provides €100 million to Pakistan in grants for development and strengthening cooperation.

Dr. Langrell said despite promising outcomes of the generalised scheme of preferences plus, the status for Pakistan was set to be revised soon, and would demand compliance with 32 core international conventions, which were previously 27. "Therefore, the reporting mechanisms for SDG-12 and global multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) by WWF-Pakistan are very timely and useful, which could improve Pakistan’s reporting at the international level," Dr. Langrell said.

He added that it might provide opportunities for new ideas regarding sustainability and circularity which could improve the overall profile of Pakistan’s industrial sector. Director General Ministry of Climate Change Mohammad Saeed Ashraf Siddiqi fully endorsed the environmental component of the ILES program which promotes compliance with the environmental standards. He also emphasized promoting resource efficiency through dashboards, calling for collaborative approaches and joint efforts by all public and private sector stakeholders.

Senior Director Footprint, WWF-Pakistan Dr. Masood Arshad said they were working on the conservation of natural resources and reduction of pollution in Pakistan’s textile and leather sectors. The toolkits developed would encourage the private sector to report their best practices at the pilot scale and initiate healthy competition. Introducing the dashboard for SDG-12, Head of Freshwater Programme at WWF-Pakistan Sohail Ali Naqvi said the success stories of environmental compliance of 75 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) under ILES could be linked to the National Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production for its effective implementation. Stakeholders from the public and private sector organizations actively took part in the discussion.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk