Rome (TDI): Pakistan has reached an agreement with Italy, Spain and Greece on a coordinated strategy to curb illegal migration while simultaneously expanding legal migration pathways, officials said Thursday.
The pact was reached during a four-nation conference in Rome, where Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with his European counterparts to address soaring irregular migration to Europe.
The joint plan focuses on dismantling human smuggling networks, tightening border controls and enhancing information sharing and operational coordination among the four countries.
It also envisions bolstering legal avenues for migration, with expanded work and travel opportunities designed to provide safer, regulated alternatives to dangerous irregular routes.
“Pakistan, Italy, Spain and Greece agreed to adopt a coordinated strategy to curb illegal immigration at all levels,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement, underscoring the importance of combining deterrence with opportunity.
Under the accord, the European partners also pledged support to strengthen Pakistan’s enforcement capabilities through technical assistance and institutional capacity building within the framework of the European Union.
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Discussions included the adoption of technology-driven systems for detecting forged travel documents and enhancing screening techniques at departure points.
A key element of the strategy is the planned finalization of a Migration Cooperation Agreement between Pakistan and Greece, and the establishment of a joint working group to ensure sustained operational cooperation. Greece also agreed to assist in training Pakistani police and paramilitary forces in modern, technology-based operations.
The agreement also touches on law enforcement cooperation, with the four countries agreeing to expedite the repatriation of individuals suspected of serious criminal offenses back to Pakistan for legal action.
A decision was also made to strengthen a joint rapid response mechanism and to hold a follow-up quadrilateral meeting later this year.
Pakistan’s stepped-up crackdown follows several high-profile tragedies, including a deadly migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean in 2023 that reignited scrutiny of smuggling networks and the perilous journeys undertaken by would-be migrants.
