Zubair Qureshi
The International Organization for Migration and the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad on Wednesday held a signing ceremony of Exchange of Notes for a US$ 3.45 million grant project aimed at strengthening the operational capacities of border management authorities to contribute towards comprehensive migration management in Pakistan.
The event – held at the IOM Office in Islamabad – was attended by Wada Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Ms. Sarah Benazir, Section Officer – Migration Management Cell, Ministry of Interior of Pakistan, Qazi Saleem Ahmed Khan Director HR & HA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mio Sato, IOM Chief of Mission in Pakistan.
As a remittance-dependent economy and a country hosting some 3 million Afghans, migration continues to play a key role in Pakistan’s development and constitutes a key priority for the Government in the forthcoming period, which is committed to strengthening overall migration management, as evidenced through various programmes and policies.
The support of the Government of Japan will enable IOM to contribute to the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration, through implementation of efficient and effective border and migration management practices.
“Migration is a multi-faceted issue in Pakistan, presenting a number of challenges and opportunities. It is only through holistic approaches that meaningful progress will be made towards comprehensive migration management in the country, efforts towards which IOM remains committed” said Mio Sato, IOM Chief of Mission in Pakistan.
“The Government of Japan is ready to support Pakistan in promoting peace and security through this project in partnership with IOM. We view a safe and secure environment as a fundamental requirement for anyone to enjoy prosperity and peace. Improving migration management and protection is key to achieving such outcomes, and we look forward to this collaborative effort with MoI and IOM.” said H.E. Wada Mitsuhiro, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan.
