ISLAMABAD: Despite limited resources, illegal immigration from Pakistan to Europe has declined by 64 percent, said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday.
The minister said this during separate meetings with Director General (DG) of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) Susanne Raab, and Executive Director of the European Union’s Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), Hans Leijtens. Both Susanne Raab and Hans Leijtens have appreciated Pakistan’s measures to curb illegal migration during the meetings.
The meetings focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation with ICMPD and Frontex to prevent irregular migration and strengthen border management. Both sides decided to further strengthen joint measures aimed at combating irregular migration and human trafficking.
During meetings, Naqvi said that reducing illegal migration by 64 percent despite limited resources had been a challenging task. We accepted the prevention of illegal migration as a challenge, and the entire team worked day and night, he said.
Naqvi said that the next target was to achieve a 100 percent reduction in illegal migration. The government would make every effort to achieve the goal, he said, adding that there is a dire need to create new avenues for legal migration to help reduce irregular migration.
He said that cooperation with ICMPD and Frontex is key to Pakistan’s efforts to address irregular migration.
Naqvi said that the use of modern technology and training is mandatory for officers dealing with preventing illegal migration. Efforts were under way to strengthen the capacity of institutions in line with modern requirements to make border management more effective, he said, adding that coordinated cooperation is necessary to eliminate irregular migration.
He added that Pakistan aimed to install modern technology-equipped cameras at all 500 immigration counters at the country’s airports. Cameras would help authorities to identify and arrest individuals involved in irregular migration and human trafficking.
The DG ICMPD appreciated Pakistan’s efforts against irregular migration and praised the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) risk analysis report.
She assured that ICMPD would extend all possible cooperation to Pakistan in achieving its goal of eliminating irregular migration. Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens also appreciated the measures taken by Pakistan to curb irregular migration and assured the country of his agency’s support in achieving the stated objective.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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