Pakistan, July 17 -- The European Union on Thursday noted significant improvement in Pakistan's compliance with Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), citing the legislation establishing a National Commission for Minorities, the narrowing of the scope of the death penalty, the continuation of the de facto moratorium on executions, the adoption of implementing rules under the Anti-Torture Act, the passage of a Domestic Violence Bill for Islamabad Capital Territory and the country's first conviction for marital rape as notable developments.

It also praised the National Commission for Human Rights for emerging as an important institution in advancing Pakistan's human rights obligations.

However, the report observed that "most progr...