Pakistan’s upcoming GSP review arrives at a moment when the politics of human rights, the pressures of regional geopolitics and the influence of narrative networks have converged to reshape how states like Pakistan are evaluated.

The EU Ambassador’s recent reminder that Pakistan must “do more” ahead of the assessment offers a starting point, but the reality is far more complex than recurring diplomatic soundbites suggest. Pakistan’s trajectory over the past decade reflects steady-though rarely acknowledged-progress. Since 2012, the country has enacted multiple rights-aligned reforms that foreign commentators often overlook.

The Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act (2021) established special prosecutors and mandatory safety mechanisms for a media sector that has historically faced threats. The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act (2021) introduced special courts, forensic protocols and tougher penalties, reflecting a shift toward evidence-based justice. Between 2020 and 2022, federal and provincial governments criminalized domestic violence and implemented protection orders and shelter systems.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act (2018) remains one of the region’s most progressive identity-rights laws, while the Zainab Alert Act (2020) created Pakistan’s first rapid response system for abducted children. These reforms are supported institutionally by the National Commission on Human Rights, which holds statutory authority to investigate complaints, monitor treaty compliance........

© Daily Times