European Union ambassadors have held talks with Pakistan's newly appointed Foreign Secretary, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, in Islamabad, focusing on political dialogue, economic cooperation and making fuller use of the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus, known as GSP+.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, 27 October, brought together the Romanian ambassador and fellow EU envoys alongside senior Pakistani diplomats, including Additional Secretary Ayesha Ali and Director General Europe I Ishtiak Ahmed Akil.

Port link and trade on the agenda

Romania's ambassador, Dr Dan Stoenescu, underlined his country's readiness to deepen political and economic ties with Pakistan. Particular attention was given to putting into operation an agreement between the ports of Constanta in Romania and Karachi, a step the participants said could strengthen trade links, connectivity and commercial exchanges.

The Romanian envoy was quoted as saying: "Building stronger partnerships through dialogue, trade and connectivity is the way forward." No new trade deal was announced at the meeting, and the discussion was framed as a step towards closer practical cooperation rather than a concluded agreement.

Why GSP+ matters for Pakistan

GSP+ gives eligible Pakistani goods preferential access to the European market, an arrangement of major importance to exporters, particularly in textiles. The talks took place against a wider EU review of compliance and implementation ahead of the scheme's next cycle, making continued engagement with Brussels a priority for Islamabad.

Both sides exchanged views on shared priorities and explored avenues for closer cooperation, with Romania pledging continued support for stronger EU-Pakistan engagement and for initiatives that build political, economic and people-to-people ties.

Sources: Centreline and Tez Khabar.