EDITORIAL: A parliamentary panel was informed the other day that more than 58,000 Pakistanis have been deported from various countries during the last couple of years.
According to interior ministry officials, as many as 5,600 individuals were expelled from Gulf States for beggary (mostly professional beggars disguised as pilgrims working for organised gangs). Those countries have zero tolerance for begging, and strictly implement measures to curb it. Furthermore, around 34,000 Pakistanis were deported from Iran last year, while nearly 50,000 were sent back from Iraq.
Unsurprisingly, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis was also told that while a growing number of potential immigrants are trying to reach Europe, approximately 12,000 having applied for asylum in different European countries during just the last one year. These numbers highlight a troubling trend that reflects both migration challenges and underlying socio-economic issues within Pakistan.
The sad story of deportations, therefore, is not just about foreign countries, but also about our domestic conditions such as high unemployment rates, lack of access to economic mobility, and political instability. Many of our people seek better economic opportunities abroad due to limited prospects at home. The Gulf States, Europe and North America have traditionally been destinations for those in search of greener pastures.
But several Western nations have introduced stricter immigration policies, tightening their borders and increasing deportation numbers. A broad political shift towards nationalism and anti-immigrant rhetoric disproportionately impacts migrant workers from developing countries like Pakistan.
Restrictive border controls, nonetheless, have not put a halt on immigration. Among the thousands that have perished at sea in hopes of finding a fulfilling life in Europe, include hundreds of Pakistanis. The number of Pakistanis willing to risk everything to go abroad, even if it means embarking on hazardous journeys across irregular dangerous routes, shows the desperation they feel.
Many taking illegal or irregular migration routes sometimes succeed in arriving at destination without proper documents, only to get turned back. That though is not the whole story. It turns out that 1,460 deportees had travelled through 691 Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs), apparently, a legally approved body for providing guidance and help to job seekers abroad. Some of them are suspected of facilitating illegal migration.
The Senate panel has recommended initiating criminal proceedings against the OEPs involved in sending individuals abroad for beggary or with falsified documents, bringing shame to this country. A fresh approach is needed to deal with the issues causing the outflow of migrants.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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