Report: ANI Correspondent
ISLAMABAD — President Asif Ali Zardari has called for expanded legal migration opportunities for Pakistani workers and professionals in Europe, stressing the need for skills-based mobility, structured cooperation with the European Union (EU) and safer pathways for overseas employment.
He expressed these views during a meeting with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The discussions focused on Pakistan-EU relations, migration management, combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and facilitating legal migration.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan and highlighted the country’s cooperation with the EU in curbing irregular migration. He said Pakistan had readmitted more than 30,000 individuals under the EU Readmission Agreement over the years.
Citing EU figures, the president said irregular migration from Pakistan had declined by 64 per cent over the preceding 18 months, reflecting sustained efforts to address the issue. He emphasised that these measures should be accompanied by expanded legal migration channels for Pakistani workers and professionals.
The meeting was informed that Pakistan had sought EU assistance to strengthen the operational capacity of the Pakistan Coast Guards and the Federal Investigation Agency to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling.
President Zardari highlighted the Pakistan-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue as an important framework for aligning Pakistan’s workforce with European labour-market needs. He expressed hope that the next round of talks, expected in Brussels early next year, would advance cooperation in this area.
Welcoming the expansion of the EU Talent Partnerships framework, he called for greater opportunities for skilled workers and professionals, including through circular migration. He also urged the EU to consider establishing a European Legal Gateway Office in Pakistan to facilitate legal migration.
Commissioner Magnus Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s role in maintaining regional stability and commended its efforts to prevent irregular migrants from undertaking dangerous journeys.
EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis, Henrik Nielsen, Grigorios Delavekouras and Lukas Gassner accompanied the commissioner.
Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister of State Muhammad Talal Chaudhry, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and former federal minister Naveed Qamar also attended the meeting.
