The EU is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners. The EU supports Pakistan’s integration into the world economy

Mahnoor Ansar

ISLAMABAD: As a special gesture to honour Pakistan on its 75th Independence Day, the EU Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka played the national anthem on trumpet. This unique way to mark the 14th of August when Pakistan obtained independence in 1947 was shared through a special campaign on the social media channels of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan in Islamabad.

The year 2022 also marks the 60 years of EU-Pakistan relations in a long standing partnership that makes both countries stronger together.  In Pakistan, the EU is committed to a stable, democratic and pluralistic country that respects human rights and benefits from its full economic potential by supporting sustainable and inclusive development for all its citizens.

The collaboration between the European Union and Pakistan is grounded in the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) signed in 2019. Areas of cooperation under the SEP include peace and security, democracy, rule of law, human rights, and migration but also sectors such as energy, climate change and science and technology.

The EU is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners. The EU supports Pakistan’s integration into the world economy and its sustainable economic development, namely by granting it preferential access to the European single market under the GSP+ system since 2014.