Lure of false dreams

As Pakistanis are drawn by the myriad promises that developed nations seem to hold

You could ask any Pakistani whether they wish to move abroad or not and you would be hard pressed to find one who says no. Rich or poor, the lure of foreign shores holds the same power above all of us. The list of reasons is extensive.

There are those, most in fact, who move in search of greener pastures, be they on account of better employment or social benefits. Others are drawn by the myriad promises that developed nations, Western ones in particular, seem to hold. And then we have members of marginalised and under-threat communities who simply seek security to live their lives as they want. Whatever their motivation, desperation drives many Pakistanis, mainly from lower income segments, to resort to illegal channels to move abroad. Naturally, their attempts carry risks for both themselves and for Pakistan’s reputation. Over the last six years alone, more than half a million Pakistanis have been deported by as many as 134 countries, according to recently reported figures obtained from the interior ministry.

It is true that many of the causes that drive Pakistanis abroad can be directly attributed to the failure of successive regimes. After all, those seeking the safety of foreign nations cannot be faulted for doing so. Even on the question of employment, the fact that most Pakistanis look to other countries comes down to inconsistent and short-sighted economic policies on part of our governments. Even so, what many Pakistanis who opt for illegal channels are unaware of is that they are being lured by false dreams. After all, even those who successfully reach their intended destinations find themselves in a far from ideal life. Those seeking jobs find themselves ill-equipped and ill-placed to land any meaningful employment and expose themselves to further exploitation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2019.

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