Zubair Qureshi
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) and the Deutsche GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) have signed an implementation agreement to advance safe and legal migration pathways.
This agreement is part of the Centres for Migration and Development (ZME) Programme, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Federal Minister for OP&HRD, ChSalikHussain, emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting it as a commitment to the welfare and reintegration of Pakistani labor migrants. Federal Secretary Dr. ArshadMahmood highlighted ongoing reforms, including the digitalization of emigration processes and creating a database for returnees, areas where GIZ can provide support.
Maria-Jose Poddey, GIZ Pakistan’s Country Director, expressed confidence that this collaboration would enhance legal labor migration opportunities from Pakistan, including to Germany. Dr. Sebastian Paust, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, underscored the role of certified skilled labor migration in reducing poverty and promoting Pakistan’s economic and social development.
The signing ceremony was followed by a stakeholder planning workshop aimed at creating an action plan for the successful implementation of the ZME programme. This involved consultations among various stakeholders, including MOPHRD staff, private sector organizations, and international civil society organizations.
