A free trade agreement (FTA) was recently signed between India and the European Union, which is being hailed as the 'mother of all deals'. (Image X @MEAIndia)
Lahore: A free trade agreement (FTA) was recently signed between India and the European Union, which is being hailed as the 'mother of all deals'. This deal has generated excitement in all 27 EU countries, and has also caused a stir in Pakistan. According to recent reports in the Pakistani media, former Federal Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz stated that the India-EU FTA will have an impact on Pakistan. The trade deal is also expected to affect Bangladesh, which is already facing economic challenges.
The former Pakistani minister expressed serious concerns about the proposed trade agreement between India and the European Union, warning that it could jeopardize the livelihoods of over one crore (10 million) people in Pakistan. Pakistani media reported that during an event in Lahore, former minister Ejaz said that the India-EU trade deal poses a significant threat to Pakistan's industrial sector, particularly the textile industry. The textile industry is the backbone of Pakistan's exports.
He warned that this agreement could severely damage Pakistan's textile exports. The former minister stated that Pakistan's textile exports are worth approximately $9 billion annually. Ejaz said that Pakistan previously benefited from preferential trade access to the EU, but those special concessions have now ended. Under the new arrangement, zero-tariff access will be extended to all regional countries. This will eliminate Pakistan's previous advantage and increase competition.
He emphasized that rising production costs, energy shortages, and high taxes have already weakened the competitiveness of Pakistani industries. He warned that if immediate policy interventions are not implemented, factories and industries may be forced to close down, leading to massive job losses across the country. This deal between India and the European Union has also increased concerns in Bangladesh. India-EU Free Trade Agreement
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and the European Union on Tuesday is a major boon for India's labor-intensive sectors such as leather and footwear, gems and jewelry, and textiles. These sectors will now be able to export to the 27 countries of the European Union with zero duty.
Copyright © 2026 Top Indian News
