ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepen partnership with the European Union.
Addressing virtually the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, he said Pakistan considers the EU a highly valued partner and remains open to engagement on all issues.
He said the GSP Plus has supported Pakistan’s exports and it has introduced reforms to attract foreign direct investment to maximally utilize this facility.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan offers an open and deregulated market with 100 percent equity ownership and repatriation of capital and dividends. Our IT sector is brimming with talent. Over the last five years, IT exports have increased by 151 percent. The EU can benefit from Pakistan’s human resource in the IT sector to realize its goals of Digitization.
He said investments from the EU member states in Pakistan’s export promotion zones could create a win-win proposition.
The Foreign Minister expressed his disappointment over the adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament on blasphemy laws in Pakistan. He said this discourse in the European Parliament reflected a lack of understanding of blasphemy laws and associated religious sensitivities. He said we need to appreciate the religious sentiments attached to the personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and other religious symbols.
He said like every other democratic and free society, we value freedom of expression. However, it should not be abused to hurt religious feelings of others. Willful provocations and incitement to hate and violence must not be allowed and be universally outlawed.
In the regional context, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan believes in the policy of restraint and peaceful coexistence.
