ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, Attaullah Tarar, the Minister of Information, claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was planning to remove Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, which was awarded by the European Union.

Through trade facilitation, the GSP+ acts as a unique incentive program to support sustainable development and good governance.

Pakistan was given the status in 2014, and it has since been renewed till 2027. tariff-free or minimal tariff exports to the European market are available to the nation.

“PTI spokespersons are getting instructions from jail to harm Pakistan and a conspiracy is being hatched so that the country’s GSP+ status is withdrawn,” Tarar said, addressing media representatives in Islamabad.

“PTI has used the [lack of] facilities being provided to PTI founder [Imran Khan] in jail as an excuse to attack Pakistan’s GSP+ status,” said the minister of information.

He claimed that PTI was attempting to undermine Pakistan’s economy by running a campaign built on lies and that the party was plotting against the nation by fabricating a story.

According to Tarar, Khan was receiving “luxurious facilities” in prison that aren’t available to any other inmate.

“The PTI founder has been provided with a kitchen, an additional room, a gallery to walk in and exercise equipment,” he stated.

He added that Khan was permitted to have hundreds of meetings while he was detained, stating that he could meet four days a week.

“Every prisoner is only allowed to meet once in jail according to the prison manual,” he stated.

He stated that these allegations regarding the PTI founder not receiving facilities were unfounded and that meetings in jail were prohibited due to reports of terrorism near Adiala jail.

According to Tarar, the PTI founder’s security as well as the security of all other inmates in the jail must be guaranteed by the jail administration and the Punjab government, respectively.

The minister stated that “a few elements were harming the country for their political purposes and they tried to lead the country to default” .

“A political party does not see the national interest nor does it care about economic recovery,” Tarar declared, accusing PTI of engaging in a vile plot through a letter sent to the IMF.

Speaking about the current state of affairs, Tarar stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets daily for three to four discussions regarding the economy of the nation. “The premier is working to end inflation and unemployment,” he stated.

Tarar reaffirmed that the PM was working around the clock to improve the state of the economy.