Migrants or Smuggling – A Poor Immigrants Policy 

Neelam Lashari

Islamabad: Almost every second person wants to leave Pakistan as soon as possible. The dream of a better future often leaves them in regrettable hands.

They are often pushed by circumstances to take risks: Some want to earn to finance the illness of their parents and others to pay for the dower for their sisters and others to provide the basic necessities of life to their loved ones.

Pushed by the harsh realities of life, they are always prone to opportunities to leave the country as soon as possible without bothering to assess the risks entailed for them and their beloved ones.

The recent incident of the Greece boat tragedy has raised eyebrows and countless questions about the immigration policy of Pakistan.

Why, for example, do Pakistani authorities continue to fail to counter the issue?

Why do they always wait for the incident to happen before acting?

Why there is no policy in place to prevent such fateful incidents?

There are many more questions that need to be asked. Most important could these fatalities would have been prevented? What could be done at home to prevent to discourage people from taking risky ventures to leave the country in pursuit of a better future?

In Pakistan, countless agents are working on the visa process. Many of them are unregistered. Thousands are lured to take trips which may involve travelling to a third-world country. From that country, they are sent illegally to destinations in Europe on unfit crafts by sea. This is not the first time it happened as it happens time and again. Those lucky enough to reach Europe spent years meeting the needs of their loved ones without seeing them again.

Few European countries have strict immigration policies of not accepting illegal immigrants. This means, hundreds of thousands are forced to remain invisible and work illegally to support themselves and their families under the constant threat of being detained and sent navy

Human trafficking agents have a strong network around the globe, and the authorities have failed to root them out completely. A rough estimate given by Federal Investigation Authorities (FIA) stated that almost 40,000 illegal trips are initiated every year.

A rough estimate given by Federal Investigation Authorities (FIA) stated that almost 40,000 illegal trips are initiated every year.

Human trafficking is internationally known as “Trans-National Crime.” Globally, many laws have been proposed to counter the issues, and many countries enforce strict compliance. Unfortunately, a few European countries are also lackluster in their approach. This makes them an easy target for human traffickers.

The recent inflation, limited resources, no job opportunities, and a hand-to-mouth life in Pakistan push people to think about leaving the country.

It is a need of time that authorities should regulate the agents and make strict policies to counter human trafficking. Government should also seriously address the main factors that are increasing the ratio of migrants. Otherwise, we will mourn such incidents in the future, and GOD forbid this may continue for years and years.

The writer is the director of research and evaluation at GSA. She is an author and a bilingual poet.

The article is the writer’s personal opinion.