ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will undertake official visits to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium from Monday, the Pakistani foreign office said, adding the visits will be focused on trade, development and climate change. 

Pakistan has a special trade arrangement with the European nations after being given the Generalized System of Preferences-Plus (GSP-Plus) status that removes or reduces import duties on products exported to Europe from low-income countries in return for their commitment to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, environmental protection and governance. 

The Pakistani state minister will have multiple engagements during the visits that will continue until June 13, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement. 

“She (Khar) will hold meetings at the ministerial level to discuss political engagement and cooperation in development, trade and climate change. She will also meet lawmakers and local entrepreneurs,” the statement read. 

“In Belgium, she will hold meetings with Members of the European Parliament and senior officials of the European Commission. In Sweden, the Minister of State will attend the Annual Meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) as a key note speaker.” 

Khan will also present Pakistan’s perspective on issues of regional and global importance and interact with leading European decision-makers, experts, think-tanks and influencers for debates on foreign policy priorities and challenges, according to the foreign office. 

Earlier this month, Pakistan and the European Union (EU) reiterated their determination to enhance cooperation in various fields, including the GSP-Plus status for the South Asian country. 

The development came during a meeting between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and EU Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Riina Kionka. 

The current regulation related to the GSP-Plus status for Pakistan will expire on December 31, 2023.