Zubair Qureshi
The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has called for addressing root causes of migration through sector-specific programmes and local development initiatives.
The recommendation was made in a study titled “Perilous Journeys: Unravelling Irregular Migration from Pakistan,” launched by NCHR in collaboration with International Organisation on Migration (IOM) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark on Tuesday. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar was the chief guest on the occasion.
The report calls for dedicated awareness units in smuggling-prone areas, awareness campaigns, special investigation units within districts, investment in training systems to enhance human capital development and fiscal benefits and improved coordination and data sharing among the stakeholders.
The report also recommends clarity on responsibilities among law enforcement agencies, establishment of well-defines pathways for regular migration, inter-institutional coordination, poverty alleviation and literacy promotion among vulnerable communities, enhancing the prospects of safe, orderly and regular migration accommodating diverse skills and provision of incentives to retain high-skilled professionals in the country.
Speaking on this occasion, Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha said that the Commission, through this report, aims to comprehensively examine the landscape of irregular migration originating from Pakistan. “It also emphasizes the distinction between human trafficking and migrant smuggling while shedding light on the drivers of migration, gaps in policy and legislation and the associated human rights abuses.
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar appreciated the efforts of NCHR and said that irregular migration is a serious global issue. He said that primarily it is the state’s responsibility to provide its citizens with the environment where could see their future in the country but that environment could be created only with collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. “Such studies guide these efforts in the right direction,” he said.
Chief of Mission IOM Mio Sato said that irregular migration is one of the most pressing issue. She said that there are 281 million international migrants worldwide, almost 3.6 per cent of the total population of the world and the trend is increasing due to conflict, violence, political instability as well as climate change and other disasters.
