Pakistan’s exodus – perils of illegal migration

Migration has remained a fundamental component in the historical development of South Asia, shaping the region’s identity and guiding its developmental trajectory. Migration can be traced back to the merchants’ use of ancient trade routes. Moreover, mass migration during the post-colonial era also changed the region’s political, social, and economic landscape. To this day, millions of South Asians continue to benefit from the opportunities presented by migration, particularly in the fields of employment, education and security.

One of the best examples of how migration contributes to the growth of the region’s foreign exchange reserves is the volume of remittances that migrants send home each year. Since 2023, remittances have accounted for 7.9 percent of Pakistan’s GDP. This indicates that secure and legal migration greatly benefits the financial sustainability of a country, while also promoting global integration and deepening cultural ties.

However, not every individual can reap the vast benefits of migration due to the ever-growing list of visa requirements, rigid immigration policies and strict regulations. Consequently, the trend of illegal migration has been rising rapidly. Multiple regional concerns, such as unequal globalisation, economic uncertainty, and overpopulation, force individuals to consider illegal migration despite its risks. However, one cannot place the entirety of the blame on economic factors. Rather, there are several social, political and cultural elements at play that fuel the crisis of illegal migration in Pakistan. For example, many Pakistani families associate true prosperity with studying and working abroad, particularly in developed countries.

As a result of illegal migration, the human trafficking business has also flourished in South Asia. Traffickers lure people in, mostly from lower income households, with false promises of job security, asylum or family reunion, and charge a lofty sum for their services. Their network is immensely vast, comprising of local agents, transnational individuals and corrupt border patrol officers. Since the nature of the routes is quite hazardous, these illegal immigrants literally put their lives at stake in search for a better future abroad.

Regarding illegal migration, geopolitical power play is also involved. Developed countries such as USA, have introduced various mechanisms to prevent illegal migration, including stricter visa requirements, reducing quotas for international student and work visas, and further tightening immigration policies. Rather than preventing illegal migration, such measures have further promoted the practice. At the global level, there are also double standards with regards to the implementation of international refugee law. While some countries are commended for closing their borders to illegal migrants, others are penalised for violating human rights. For example, the Pakistani government faced immense criticism from the global community for its decision to repatriate illegal Afghans.

Even after arriving abroad, the conditions of Pakistan migrants are dismal. Their labour is exploited due to their lack of a legal status and discrimination; therefore, they are heavily underpaid. It is only when a tragic incident that attracts global media attention occurs the international community chooses to address the concerns of these immigrants. Such selective engagement highlights the inherent hypocrisy of the global community in its approach to international migration policies and practices.

Pakistan is actively working to address these concerns at the national and global level. Multiple attempts have been made to restrict illegal migration, for instance, the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, and the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act 2018. In the fight against illegal migration, the government is working actively to strengthen border control mechanisms. Authorities have also detained hundreds of people in recent years in an effort to dismantle these organized crime networks involved in human trafficking.

However, public awareness campaigns are vital for guaranteeing the complete eradication of illegal migration. The government can help aspiring migrants find legal migration routes. Such campaigns will also reshape the way that migration is portrayed and educate the public about the risks and adverse effects of illegal migration.

To this end, the government must devise a comprehensive media strategy to tackle the misinformation being spread by human trafficking networks. Since much of the targeted population is the youth, the power of social media can be utilized to generate awareness. To increase the effectiveness of such a campaign, it is imperative that the message not only be spread in Urdu and English but also be translated into major regional languages.

In conclusion, illegal migration must not be regarded as a crisis requiring mitigation but rather as a sector that requires strategic management and development. It is crucial to incorporate it into the larger foreign policy framework of the country and address its root causes rather than focusing solely on surface level concerns.