EU special envoy urges Pakistan to continue implementing int’l conventions

Islamabad : European Union Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion of Belief (FoRB) outside the EU Frans van Daele said Pakistan should continue implementing the relevant international conventions to facilitate its reapplication for the trade scheme once the new regulation on GSP was in force.

FoRB is a key priority for the EU, including in the context of the strategic engagement with Pakistan.

Before concluding his week-long visit to Pakistan, Daele told reporters that the next GSP+ monitoring mission was expected in early 2025.

He underlined the EU’s continued support for and interest in enhanced cooperation with Pakistan.

During the visit, the EU special envoy said he met federal and provincial officials, parliamentarians, religious leaders, non-government and civil society activists, human rights defenders, and local communities to engage and exchange on the state of freedom of religion and belief in Pakistan and to foster the respect for diversity of religions and beliefs.

In meetings with Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, the special envoy enquired about the challenges of freedom of religion or belief in Pakistan and mentioned areas of concern in line with the last GSP+ monitoring report of November 2023.

During his visit to Punjab, Mr Daele engaged with local communities in Jaranwala and Rabwah and met with Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora and Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar in Lahore.

He appreciated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' facilitation of his visit during a meeting with newly-appointed foreign secretary Amna Baloch.

The EU special envoy said his mandate involved raising awareness and engaging with state and non-state actors, civil society, churches, faith-based and religious organisations, as well as non-confessional organisations in order to prevent and address violations of the freedom of religion and belief.