Islamabad, August 20, 2026: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday chaired the seventh meeting on strengthening Pakistan’s trade and economic engagement with friendly countries, with particular focus on the European Union.
The meeting reviewed measures to accelerate trade and economic partnerships, including improving market access, enhancing export performance and strengthening coordination among relevant government stakeholders.
Dar emphasized the importance of effective follow-up on Pakistan’s commitments and conventions under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) framework, stressing that stronger compliance and implementation were essential to maximizing the benefits of the preferential trade regime.
The deputy prime minister directed all concerned authorities to accord priority to improving Pakistan’s trade and export performance and ensure timely implementation of agreed measures.
He also called for enhanced institutional coordination to maximize market access and create greater economic opportunities for Pakistani exporters in the EU and other friendly markets.
The meeting discussed ways to strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with key international markets and improve coordination among ministries and departments responsible for trade, foreign affairs, investment and economic cooperation.
Dar stressed that effective follow-up on decisions and commitments was critical to translating diplomatic and trade engagements into tangible economic gains for Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Federal Secretaries for Commerce and Interior, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Brussels, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), and senior federal and provincial officials from the relevant ministries and departments.
