Islamabad: An astounding 40% Pakistanis wish to leave the country, according to a report compiled by the International Organization for Migration.
The IOM report was released by the country’s National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) on Thursday, as Pakistan became one of the top five countries accounting for illegal migration to Europe.
The report, authored by Zunaira Inam, had been prepared by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Denmark and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Karachi, as per The Express Tribune.
The primary factors for the enormous numbers were the lack of social security, jobs, education, economic downfall, and terrorism.
The report highlighted a huge spike in illegal migration in the last two years, and despite the risks associated with it, it has continued. “Illegal migration is increasing in spite of serious difficulties and danger to life on the illegal routes,” NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha said.
Speaking at the introduction ceremony of the report, the NCHR Chairman added that some improvements have been made to curb the trend, following the drafting of stricter laws after a fatal boat accident off Greece’s coast in 2023 claimed over 300 Pakistani lives.
Senator Qaratul Ain Marri of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) termed the report a “call for action”, urging for a coordinated effort to address the socio-economic and political issues driving the emigration.
The data showed that urban areas had a higher desire to migrate, with Balochistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan seeing the strongest push for emigration.
“These reports point out our internal problems and challenges that require a coordinated and effective strategy to solve them,” she said, adding that the Senate Human Rights Committee “will play an active role” in resolving these problems.
According to the report, Pakistan was not even in the top 10 list back in 2022 though by mid-2023, it reached the fifth rank of nations accounting for the greatest number of illegal migrants to Europe.
The report added that the most common routes used by Pakistani migrants were by the way of Egypt, Libya and Dubai.
UNI
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