Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its engagement with the European Union and continuing cooperation under the GSP+ trade framework.
The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the leaders reviewed the broader Pakistan-EU relationship and expressed satisfaction over the increasing high-level engagement between the two sides.
PM Shehbaz stressed the importance of sustained leadership-level engagement to provide further direction and momentum to bilateral relations. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its broad-based partnership with the EU and implementing the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.
The leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments and highlighted the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
PM Shehbaz also renewed his invitation to the presidents of the European Council and European Commission to visit Pakistan.
The meeting came shortly after Pakistan and the EU signed financing agreements worth €65 million to support Global Gateway investments, strengthen the rule of law and business environment, and improve energy and environmental resilience.
Von der Leyen described her meeting with PM Shehbaz as “very good” and said the EU valued its partnership with Pakistan. She said discussions focused on taking the relationship forward, including trade and efforts to address illegal migration.
The future of GSP+ remains an important issue in Pakistan-EU relations. The existing GSP+ framework is scheduled to expire at the end of 2026, while a successor arrangement is expected to introduce additional requirements. Pakistan is seeking continued access to preferential trade treatment under the new framework.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also held discussions with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, highlighting the importance of GSP+ for Pakistan’s trade relations with the bloc.
Separately, PM Shehbaz met International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
The prime minister said Pakistan was moving from macroeconomic stabilisation towards an economic recovery path, supported by fiscal and monetary measures. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the IMF-supported reform programme.
PM Shehbaz also highlighted progress in fiscal discipline, external buffers, revenue mobilisation, tariff reforms and privatisation, while stressing measures aimed at protecting vulnerable sections of society.
Georgieva acknowledged Pakistan’s progress under the IMF programme and said the country’s stabilisation efforts were producing tangible results. The two sides also discussed the upcoming programme review and continued cooperation on economic reforms.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met US Export-Import Bank Chairman John Jovanovich in New York.
The discussions covered potential financing for Pakistan International Airlines aircraft, refinery upgrades and the Reko Diq mining project. Aurangzeb highlighted PIA’s interest in Boeing 787 Dreamliners and sought financing support for aircraft and engines. He also raised the need for spare parts to bring grounded Boeing 777 aircraft back into service.
The finance minister also discussed Reko Diq’s importance for Pakistan’s future exports and the potential role of US EXIM Bank in financing the project.
Aurangzeb further participated in a Digital Cooperation Organisation ministerial dialogue, where he discussed Pakistan’s efforts to develop regulations for virtual assets and their potential applications in areas including remittances and asset tokenisation.
