Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocates for safer migration opportunities for Pakistani professionals.
- Meeting with EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration discussed cooperation in migration and mobility.
- Sharif highlights Pakistan’s efforts to combat irregular migration and protect migrants.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for expanding legal migration opportunities for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals to European countries, aiming to address labour-market needs while reducing migrants' vulnerability to smuggling networks.
During a meeting with Magnus Brunner, European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Sharif underscored the importance of safe and regular migration pathways, stating that such measures would complement efforts to curb irregular migration.
The meeting, part of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019, focused on strengthening cooperation in migration and mobility, with Sharif reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to further partnership with the European Union.
Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, and international cooperation in addressing irregular migration and combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
He emphasized the need for practical opportunities for safe, orderly, and regular migration, noting that this would help address the labour-market needs of European countries while protecting prospective migrants from exploitation.
Commissioner Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s measures and the cooperation extended by its government, expressing confidence that these efforts would contribute to expanding legal migration pathways and promoting mutually beneficial labour mobility.
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 migrants from exploitation by smuggling networks.
Both parties agreed that strengthening Pakistan-EU cooperation in migration and mobility would be crucial for achieving these goals.
