Pakistan should stop benefitting from preferential tariffs for exports to Europe until it makes significant improvements in addressing religious persecution of non-Muslims and child marriages, politicians and human rights groups have said. Karachi is the largest benefactor of lower tariffs on exports to the EU under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), a 1971 initiative intended to boost the economies of developing nations. A similar UK scheme, the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, allows it to export £250 million a year in bedlinen and £100 million in jeans to the UK for a 12% reduction in import duty.
But Pakistan’s continued policy of discrimination against non-Muslims and their teachings – breaking religious freedom clauses in its own constitution- is increasingly problematic. In a sign that Donald Trump isn’t the only one capable of weaponising tariffs, former EU Education Commissioner Ján Figeľ told a UN Human Rights Council group that Pakistan’s continued flouting of equality rules means that that the EU should “halt” the preferential tariffs.
“Freedom of religion or belief is not just one right among many—it is central to human dignity and a litmus test for the protection of all other rights,” he told a UN Human Rights Council group in Geneva.
“Pakistan’s constitutional and penal structures—particularly the blasphemy laws—are uniquely harsh and foster widespread discrimination.”
He added; “Pakistan is the largest beneficiary of GSP+ preferences, yet there has been little improvement in human rights.
‘The EU must reassess the cost of this silence.”
Mr Figeľ also called for the reform of EU education support, stating: “Financial assistance to discriminatory or extremist educational content must be halted. Promoting segregation from childhood undermines peace, justice, and inclusion.”
His call was backed by Willy Fautré, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers, said: “Between 2016 and 2024, the European Union has spent upwards of €150 million on education in Pakistan.
“Yet this investment supports a system where non-Muslim children face exclusion, and extremist clerics dictate curricula.
“Parliamentary questions have been raised, but the Commission’s responses have lacked transparency and accountability.”
Examples include a professor in the Punjab who was forced to publicly renounce teaching Darwin’s theory after threats from clerics.
“This is not education, it is ideological coercion – the EU’s credibility is at stake,” he added.
“If Europe is to remain a human rights actor, it must ensure that public funds do not enable the erosion of pluralism and academic freedom.”
Inna Chefranova, executive director of the European Facilitation Platform, said other issues extended to child marriages and forced religious conversions.
“The problem of forced religious conversion is systemic, not incidental. It is enabled by a curriculum that marginalises non-Muslim identities and presents Islamic supremacy as a norm,” she said.
“Cases such as that of 13-year-old Arzoo Raja, who was abducted, converted and married to an older man, illustrate the failures of Pakistan’s judiciary and education system.”
She added; “The EU cannot continue to provide GSP+ privileges while systemic abuse persists. Monitoring without enforcement fails victims.
“Education should be a tool of inclusion, not indoctrination. Until reforms are implemented, support should be conditional on measurable progress.”