Why Pakistanis Migrate to Europe?
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Why Pakistanis Migrate to Europe ?
Pakistani authorities estimate that each year, around 30,000 to 40,000 individuals from Pakistan attempt to migrate illegally to Europe through Iran and Turkey.
What are the primary reasons that drive individuals from Pakistan to embark on hazardous journeys towards Europe?
The reasons for migration are multifaceted, encompassing various factors within the Pakistani context such as sluggish economic growth, precarious security conditions, frequent natural disasters, and political instability.
These conditions result in limited opportunities for advanced education and skilled employment. Moreover, Pakistan boasts a substantial expatriate community abroad, with many individuals having family ties overseas, which fuels the aspiration to reunite with loved ones.
The Gujrat district in Pakistan’s western Punjab province has emerged as a focal point for outbound migration, a trend that has endured for decades. However, the effectiveness of legislation in curbing illegal migration from Pakistan remains uncertain.
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In many regions of Pakistan, constrained economic development and scant employment opportunities are primary drivers of migration. Measures aimed at combating migrant smuggling and closing migration routes fail to address the root causes of migration and displacement.
What is imperative is the implementation of laws regulating emigration from Pakistan and entry into other countries, alongside mechanisms facilitating the repatriation of Pakistani nationals.
While Pakistan has a labor migration policy intended to support and safeguard its citizens seeking work abroad, this often lacks reciprocal legislation in recipient countries to regulate incoming labor migrants. There is considerable scope for enhancing legal avenues to deter irregular migration.
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Moreover, the process of repatriating Pakistanis found residing unlawfully in Europe is hindered by delays or refusals in issuing travel documents by Pakistan, exacerbated by a lack of bilateral agreements facilitating migrant returns with several countries. Addressing these bureaucratic hurdles is essential in effectively managing migration flows.
Efforts to combat the transnational crime of migrant smuggling are indeed underway at the international level, with initiatives such as the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants playing a pivotal role.
However, there is concern that the issue of migrant smuggling is receiving diminishing attention from European governments compared to previous years, with only a few states actively participating in forums to strengthen international cooperation under the protocol.
Despite international frameworks like the Global Compact on Migration offering potential solutions to curb migrant smuggling and irregular migration, implementation by many states has been slow, and some remain resistant to meaningful responses.
Responsibility for addressing migrant smuggling lies primarily with individual states rather than international organizations, which stand prepared to provide assistance.
In the context of Pakistan, while facing a myriad of challenges including political instability, terrorism, and a weak economy, migrant smuggling may not be perceived as the foremost priority. Legislation and countermeasures against smuggling have been enacted, often in response to external pressure rather than as a domestically driven priority.
The approach taken in Pakistan, where existing laws on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants were reviewed and updated over a period of five years, can indeed serve as a model for other countries facing similar challenges.
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This method involves drafting new laws that align with national legislation, relevant international treaties, and model laws provided by organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
This model can be applied in countries and regions where laws concerning the smuggling of migrants are either absent or inadequately developed, lacking consistency with international standards and best practices.
Urgent attention is particularly needed in regions where migrant smuggling is prevalent and poses significant humanitarian and security concerns. This includes various parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, where vulnerable populations are often exploited by smuggling networks.
By adopting and adapting the approach used in Pakistan, these countries can strengthen their legal frameworks to combat human smuggling effectively.