KARACHI – Attacks on churches and Christian communities in eastern Pakistan have sparked debate over recently passed blasphemy legislation and raised concerns about the country’s trade status with the European Union, which has long had a critical eye about the country’s religious tensions.
The EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status for Pakistan and 12 other countries, granted in 2014 and allowing zero import duties on 66% of goods destined for the bloc, will expire in December. The EU Parliament and Council will define new terms aligned with 27 global conventions on human rights, labour, governance and the environment.