ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has called for a coordinated global response and greater use of modern technology to combat illegal migration, the interior ministry said on Saturday.
Talal Chaudhry made the remarks while attending a meeting of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in Vienna, an international initiative launched by the European Union in 2023 to strengthen cooperation among governments and international organizations against human smuggling networks.
Addressing the forum, Talal said illegal migration had evolved into a global challenge that required collective action rather than isolated national efforts.
“Illegal migration is not just a border issue but a global challenge. A joint strategy is essential,” the interior ministry quoted him as saying.
He stressed that advanced technology, intelligence sharing, and coordinated international strategies were the most effective tools to dismantle human smuggling networks.
Talal Chaudhry also urged the international community to expand pathways for safe, orderly, and legal migration, arguing that providing legitimate migration opportunities was key to reducing irregular migration.
Pakistan has intensified efforts to curb illegal migration in recent years. According to official figures, illegal migration to Europe from Pakistan declined by 47 percent last year, while authorities arrested more than 1,700 suspected human smugglers during an expanded nationwide crackdown.
As part of these efforts, Pakistan has introduced an artificial intelligence-based immigration screening system at Islamabad International Airport to detect forged travel documents and prevent illegal departures.
The country has also strengthened international cooperation. In June, UK Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer announced an additional Rs2.9 billion (£8 million) to support joint Pakistan-UK initiatives aimed at tackling illegal migration and transnational crime.
Illegal migration has become a major concern in Pakistan following a series of deadly boat disasters in recent years that claimed the lives of hundreds of Pakistani migrants attempting to reach Europe. Authorities have also stepped up action against trafficking networks after several arrests involving forged travel documents at airports.
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The incidents have highlighted the risks faced by migrants from Pakistan and other South Asian countries, many of whom undertake dangerous journeys in search of better economic opportunities in Europe and the West.
