Pakistan has ascended to the fifth position on a list that identifies countries with the highest numbers of illegal migrants in Europe, according to a report released by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) this Thursday.
The report provides startling statistics, indicating that approximately 40% of Pakistanis are eager to emigrate, driven by economic difficulties, political uncertainty, insufficient educational opportunities, unemployment, inflation, and terrorism.
Rabia Jafri Agha, Chairperson of the NCHR, highlighted that illegal immigration has escalated over the past two years, persisting despite the inherent dangers associated with perilous routes. “There is a continual increase in illegal immigration, although these unlawful paths are fraught with severe risks to life,” she commented.
In 2022, Pakistan did not feature among the top ten nations for illegal immigration to Europe. However, by mid-2023, it emerged as the fifth major source country, with 8,778 individuals reaching Europe illegally by December.
Pakistani migrants predominantly traverse through Dubai, Egypt, and Libya to reach Europe. In the first half of 2023 alone, approximately 13,000 Pakistanis used this route, and about 10,000 have not returned.
The trend of illegal migration is more pronounced in urban areas than rural ones. The NCHR report reveals that 40% of urban dwellers and 36% of rural residents expressed a desire to leave the country.
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The inclination to emigrate is most pronounced in Balochistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), where 42% of the population wishes to relocate, followed by 38% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 37.6% in Sindh, and 36.5% in Islamabad.
The report also shows a significant rise in the number of Pakistanis embarking on illegal journeys to Europe, with a 280% increase observed in the first ten months of 2022. During the same period, there were notable increases from Turkey (208%), Egypt (179%), Afghanistan (165%), Syria (122%), and Bangladesh (92%).
Syrians constitute 42.7% of the illegal migrants in Europe, making them the largest group, followed by Afghans at 16.4%, Tunisians at 12.1%, Egyptians at 9.6%, Bangladeshis at 8%, Turks at 5.7%, and Pakistanis at 5.5%. Notably, Pakistani districts such as Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, and Sialkot are specifically emphasized due to their high numbers of migrants.
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In the year 2022, authorities deported over 46,000 Pakistanis who had illegally traveled to Europe, utilizing air transport for the majority, with an additional 5,676 individuals deported by land and 19,055 offloaded from their transport. The intensity of these actions continued into the first eight months of 2023, during which over 25,000 were deported via air and 3,150 by land, with another 10,366 individuals being offloaded.
The situation gained further urgency following the tragic incident in June 2023, where hundreds of Pakistani illegal migrants perished near the coast of Greece. This event prompted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other law enforcement agencies to escalate their efforts against human smuggling networks. Throughout 2023, these intensified operations led to the registration of 189 cases and the arrest of 854 individuals involved in human smuggling activities, signaling a robust response to the ongoing crisis.
