Photo credit: The Nation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called for expanding legal migration opportunities for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals in European countries, saying pathways could help meet labour-market needs while reducing migrants’ vulnerability to smuggling networks.
Business Recorder reports that he made these remarks while speaking to Magnus Brunner, European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, who called on him on his first visit to Pakistan.
The meeting focused on strenghtening Pakistan-EU cooperation in migration and mobility, one of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU cooperation in migration and mobility, one of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019.
Sharif reaffirmed 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.
He emphasized that practical opportunities for safe, orderly and regular migration should complement measures to address irregular migration.
The prime minister noted that expanding legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals would help address the labour-market needs of European countries while protecting prospective migrants from exploitation by smuggling networks.
Commissioner Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s measures and the cooperation extended by its government.
He expressed confidence that these efforts would contribute to expanding legal migration pathways and promoting mutually beneficial labour mobility between Pakistan and the European Union.
