President Asif Ali Zardari urges the EU to expand legal migration pathways for Pakistani professionals, highlighting a 64% drop in irregular migration.
ISLAMABAD, October 13: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for greater opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani workers and professionals in Europe, stressing that Islamabad’s sustained measures to curb irregular migration must be met with expanded legal pathways, skills-based mobility, and structured cooperation.
The President outlined these positions during a high-level meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr with Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration. The discussions centered heavily on bilateral relations between Pakistan and the European Union, comprehensive cooperation on migration management, joint endeavors to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and practical mechanisms to facilitate legal employment mobility.
President Zardari stated that Pakistan attaches deep importance to its broad-based partnership with the European Union, affirming the country’s ongoing commitment to fulfilling the objectives outlined in the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan. Detailing specific migration management figures, the President pointed out that Pakistan continues to enforce the EU Readmission Agreement, having readmitted more than 30,000 individuals over successive years. He underscored that the government remains resolute in dismantling human trafficking networks through fortified legislation, enhanced institutional capacity, rigorous border controls, and proactive international cooperation.
Highlighting measurable progress, the President noted that official European Union figures indicate a 64 percent reduction in irregular migration outflows from Pakistan over the preceding eighteen months. He emphasized that this decrease distinguishes Pakistan as the only nation in the region to achieve such a substantial decline, attributing the outcome to sustained domestic efforts while reiterating the necessity of opening safe and legal avenues for labor mobility.
Strengthening Migration Management and Legal immigrantion &Labor Frameworks
During the consultations, the European delegation was apprised that Pakistan has officially sought European assistance to bolster the operational capacities of both the Pakistan Coast Guards and the Federal Investigation Agency. Upgrading these institutions is viewed as critical to intensifying national efforts against irregular border crossings and organized migrant smuggling syndicates.
President Zardari emphasized that establishing dependable legal migration pathways is vital to safeguarding workers from exploitative smuggling operations. He pointed to the Pakistan-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue as an effective bilateral mechanism capable of aligning Pakistan’s substantial human resource potential with the specific labor market demands of European member states. Furthermore, the President expressed optimism that the upcoming round of the dialogue, scheduled to take place in Brussels early next year, will successfully advance this collaborative agenda.
Commissioner Magnus Brunner acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in regional migration stability, commending the nation’s proactive measures to prevent vulnerable individuals from undertaking hazardous, life-threatening irregular journeys. The high-level dialogue underscores ongoing diplomatic efforts by both Islamabad and Brussels to institutionalize long-term solutions for managing cross-border mobility, enhancing border security infrastructure, and fostering structured talent partnerships.
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