Illegal migration to Europe drops by 64%

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan has achieved a 64 per cent reduction in illegal migration towards Europe and reaffirmed the government's commitment to further strengthening measures against human smuggling and unlawful migration.

He made these remarks during separate meetings with Director General of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Susanne Raab and Executive Director of the European Union Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) Hans Leijtens. The meetings focused on enhancing cooperation to prevent illegal migration, improve border management and strengthen joint efforts in the field.

During the discussions, Pakistan, ICMPD and Frontex agreed to expand mutual cooperation aimed at curbing illegal migration and improving border security mechanisms.

The participants also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordinated measures for migration management and border control.

Naqvi said that achieving a 64 per cent reduction in illegal migration despite limited resources was a challenging task. He stated that the government accepted the prevention of illegal migration as a major challenge and that the entire team worked continuously to achieve the result.

The minister said the next target is to bring illegal migration down by 100 per cent and that all efforts would be directed towards achieving this objective.

He emphasized that opening new avenues for legal migration is necessary to further reduce illegal migration.

According to him, legal pathways can help address migration challenges while ensuring safe and regulated movement of people.

Naqvi stressed the need for modern technology and professional training of officers to strengthen efforts against illegal migration. He said the government is focusing on enhancing the capacity of relevant institutions in line with modern requirements to make border management more effective.

He added that practical measures and coordinated cooperation are required to completely eliminate illegal migration. The minister noted that cooperation with ICMPD and Frontex holds significant importance for Pakistan's migration management efforts.

Highlighting future plans, Naqvi said Pakistan aims to install technologically advanced cameras at 500 immigration counters across all airports in the country. He explained that the modern surveillance system would help authorities identify and take immediate action against individuals involved in illegal migration and human smuggling.

Director General ICMPD Susanne Raab appreciated Pakistan's efforts against illegal migration and acknowledged the measures taken by the country to address the issue. She said Pakistan's progress in reducing illegal migration was noteworthy and assured continued support in achieving the goal of completely eliminating the problem.

The ICMPD delegation also appreciated the Federal Investigation Agency's Risk Analysis Report and recognized the work being carried out to improve migration monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens also commended Pakistan's steps to curb illegal migration. He stated that the measures adopted by Pakistan had produced positive results and pledged full cooperation in helping the country achieve its target of completely eliminating illegal migration.