PM Shehbaz emphasises need for 'safe, orderly migration' in meeting with EU commissioner

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday emphasised the need to complement efforts to curb irregular migration with practical opportunities for "safe, orderly and regular migration" during a meeting with European Union (EU) Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner.

The meeting focused on strengthening Pakistan-EU cooperation in the areas of migration and mobility, one of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a press release.

Welcoming Commissioner Brunner on his first visit to Pakistan, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s sustained efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking through legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, effective enforcement, and international cooperation.

Read: Talal Chaudhry says Pakistan's illegal migration strategy model for world

The premier underscored the importance Pakistan attached to its partnership with the EU and reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening cooperation across all pillars of the Pak-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.

He noted that expanding legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals would help meet the labour-market needs of European countries while reducing the vulnerability of prospective migrants to smuggling networks.

Brunner appreciated the measures taken and the cooperation extended by the government of Pakistan.

He expressed confidence that these efforts would contribute positively to the expansion of legal migration pathways and the promotion of mutually beneficial labour mobility between Pakistan and the EU.

President Zardari calls for structured EU cooperation, legal mobility for Pakistani professionals

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari called for greater opportunities for legal migration of Pakistani workers and professionals in Europe in his meeting with Brunner at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The president stressed that Pakistan’s sustained efforts to curb irregular migration should be matched by expanded legal pathways, skills-based mobility and structured cooperation with the EU, the Presidency said in a post on X.

The president said Pakistan attached great importance to its broad-based cooperation with the European Union and remains committed to implementing the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.

President Zardari highlighted Pakistan’s cooperation with the EU in curbing irregular migration, noting that Pakistan continued to implement the EU Readmission Agreement and had readmitted more than 30,000 individuals over the years.

He noted that Pakistan remained committed to combating human trafficking and irregular migration through stronger legislation, institutional capacity, border controls and international cooperation.

Referring to the progress made in reducing irregular migration, the president underlined that, according to EU figures, irregular migration from Pakistan reduced by 64% in the last eighteen months, making Pakistan the only country in the region to achieve such a reduction.

He said this progress reflected Pakistan’s sustained efforts and underlined the importance of expanding safe and legal avenues for migration.

The president emphasised that legal migration pathways were essential to providing safe opportunities for workers and reducing reliance on smuggling networks.

He highlighted the Pakistan-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue as a useful framework for matching Pakistan’s human-resource potential with European labour-market needs and expressed the hope that the next round of dialogue, expected to take place in Brussels early next year, would advance this cooperation.

President Zardari also welcomed the expansion of the EU Talent Partnerships framework and called for greater opportunities for skilled workers and professionals, including through circular migration.

He said Pakistan was ready to work with the EU on a structured mechanism to match its workforce with European labour-market requirements and expressed the hope that the EU would consider establishing a European Legal Gateway Office in Pakistan, given the existing Talent Partnership and the country’s efforts to curb irregular migration.

The president said Pakistan and the EU had a broad-based relationship spanning political dialogue, trade, development cooperation and other areas of mutual interest. He expressed confidence that continued engagement would strengthen mutual understanding and help advance practical cooperation on migration and mobility.

Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s role in maintaining the regional balance and said Pakistan had done an amazing job in this regard.

He also commended Pakistan’s efforts to prevent irregular migrants from undertaking dangerous journeys that cost many of them their lives.

Dar, EU Commissioner discuss expanding legal migration opportunities for Pakistanis

Meanwhile, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed ways to strengthen Pakistan-European Union cooperation on migration and mobility with Brunner.

The deputy prime minister expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-EU relations, recalling recent engagements between the two sides, whereas the discussions focused on enhancing cooperation on migration and mobility, a key pillar of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan (2019).

He highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking. He stressed that these measures should be complemented by increased opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals.

Commissioner Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s progress in curbing irregular migration and acknowledged the scope for expanding legal migration pathways.

The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its partnership with the European Union and expressed hope that the commissioner’s visit would lead to practical outcomes beneficial to both sides.

Naqvi, EU commissioner agree to strengthen cooperation

Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also met Brunner to discuss cooperation on migration, border management and legal employment opportunities, following a 64% decline in illegal migration from Pakistan to Europe.

The two leaders also held delegation-level talks during the meeting, where Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s measures against illegal migration and acknowledged the performance of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Brunner said the 64% reduction in illegal migration to Europe, achieved through Pakistan’s effective measures, was commendable. He also praised the FIA for demonstrating professional capabilities despite limited resources.

Read More: Illegal migration to Europe drops by 64%

He said the decline in illegal migration would help open pathways for legal migration.

Naqvi further stated Pakistan had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against illegal migration, adding that after reducing illegal migration by 64 per cent, Pakistan’s next target was to eliminate it completely.

Naqvi said Pakistan and the EU needed to work together to end illegal migration while describing the issue as a highly serious global challenge.

During the meeting, both sides discussed promoting legal migration between Pakistan and the EU, strengthening border security and expanding opportunities for skilled workers.

The two sides also agreed to work together on the EU’s Eastern Corridor Initiative to eliminate illegal migration.

The meeting further discussed expanding cooperation to enhance the operational capacity of the Pakistan Coast Guard.

Brunner assured Pakistan of all possible cooperation in this regard.