27 June 2025
The European Union is investigating whether Pakistan will lose its privileged trade position. This follows a dossier from the World Sindhi Congress documenting serious violations of 27 international treaties. The report describes environmental destruction, land grabs, and systematic oppression in Sindh. Pakistan enjoys trade benefits under the GSP+ scheme but is failing to meet its conditions.
Environmental Disaster in Sindh
Six new mega-canals are diverting water from the Indus River, violating a 1991 water accord. This leads to salinization of coastal areas, desertification of farmland, and forced migration of thousands. The Karoonjhar Mountains are being illegally destroyed by granite mining, despite court orders. Rare animal species are disappearing, and ancient temples are under threat.
Land Grabs by the Military
The Pakistani military is appropriating land on a massive scale. In Karachi, 45 fishing villages are threatened by a coastal project. Over 52,000 hectares of land in Sindh have been transferred to a military-owned company for commercial agriculture. Plans exist for a further two million hectares. Illegal appropriation looms near the protected Haleji Lake. Local communities are denied any say.
Disappearances and Killings
Approximately 500 Sindhi activists have disappeared in recent years. At least 55 remain missing. Schoolteacher Hidayat Lohar was murdered in 2024 after two years of imprisonment. His daughters continue his struggle. Three political workers were executed without trial last October. Religious minorities are vulnerable: an estimated 300 Hindu girls per year are forcibly converted and married off.
Justice System Failing
The case of 9-year-old Fatima Phuriro shocked Pakistan. She was raped and murdered in the home of an influential landlord. Although suspects were arrested, the case stalled. Environmental activist Nazim Jokhio was tortured to death in 2021 after filming illegal hunting. The main suspect, a Member of Parliament, was acquitted after his family was pressured. Press freedom is also under severe pressure. Journalist Nasrullah Gadani was murdered in May 2024 after exposing abuses. Doctor Shahnawaz Kumbhar was lynched last September following false blasphemy accusations. These are just a few examples of the abuses in Pakistan.
The World Sindhi Congress calls on the EU to immediately freeze Pakistan’s GSP+ status. They demand an investigative mission to Sindh and a hearing in the European Parliament. Since 2021, over 55 activists have gone missing in Sindh while the military annexed 52,000 hectares of land. The EU now faces a choice: economic interests or human rights.
Source: Dossier “Review of Pakistan’s GSP+ Status” by World Sindhi Congress (June 2025)
Andy Vermaut +32499357495