The European Union has commended Pakistan for significant legal reforms, including reducing the scope of the death penalty and criminalising child marriage in the capital, during a high-level meeting focused on human rights cooperation and the country’s GSP+ commitments.

According to an official information today, EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, met with Federal Minister for Law and Justice and Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, to review ongoing collaboration on human rights frameworks and their implementation.

During the discussion, Senator Tarar updated the ambassador on Pakistan”s dialogue with the EU following the GSP+ Monitoring Mission of November 2025, reiterating the nation”s resolve to uphold its international obligations under the preferential trade framework.

The Law Minister detailed a series of recent legislative and institutional advancements, including the enactment of the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025, which establishes 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage.

He also pointed to the National Commission on Protection of Minorities Act, 2025, and the steps being taken to make it operational, underscoring the government”s firm commitment to protecting minority rights through empowered and independent institutional mechanisms.

Ambassador Karoblis specifically praised the legal reforms, highlighting amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code that substitute life imprisonment for the death penalty in certain offences. He also acknowledged the establishment of the National Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals.

Minister Tarar provided an overview of the country”s comprehensive National Action Plan on Human Rights (NAP-HR), which is steering legal reforms and improving access to justice. The discussion also covered the joint “EU Huqooq-e-Pakistan II” programme, which aims to bolster governmental human rights structures and education.

Both officials concurred on the need for continued close collaboration to ensure constructive outcomes in the Pakistan-EU human rights dialogue. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to deepen relations and advance the shared human rights agenda.