Illicit financial flows from developing countries deplete resources: PM

Talking to Greek migration minister, Premier Imran also stresses urgency of addressing Afghan humanitarian crisis

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the illicit financial flows from developing countries to the developed nations deplete resources of the former and that the phenomenon also manifests itself in creating issues like illegal migration.

The premier was talking to Minister for Migration and Asylum of Hellenic Republic (Greece) Panagiotis Mitarachi who called on him along with his accompanying delegation.

PM Imran said that while stemming illicit financial flows, ways should also be discovered to establish pathways to legal migration.

In this context, he appreciated Greece’s initiative of establishing legal migration channels which would open avenues for Pakistani skilled labour.

Prime Minister Imran Khan during a meeting with Greek minister Panagiotis Mitarachi in Islamabad on February 7, 2022. PHOTO: APP

He underlined the importance Pakistan attached to its cooperative ties with Greece and stressed the need for increased collaboration in diverse fields including migration.

Afghan crisis

On the occasion, Premier Imran also underlined the urgency of addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and preventing an economic meltdown.

He stressed it is imperative to release frozen Afghan assets to alleviate sufferings of the 40 million Afghan people, as it would help build a sustainable Afghan economy and prevent mass exodus of Afghans to other countries.

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Reciprocating, Mitarachi highlighted the importance of Greece-Pakistan relations and regular bilateral exchanges.

While conveying cordial greetings to the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, he also conveyed his invitation to the prime minister to visit Greece.

Mitarachi appreciated the Pakistani community’s role in building the economy of Greece and outlined the proposed plan for legal migration channels between the two countries.

Pakistan and the Hellenic Republic enjoy friendly relations, with a strong Pakistani diaspora of more than 60,000 being an important economic and cultural bridge between the two countries.

The visit is expected to further help enhance cooperative ties between the two countries.