Islamabad: In a meeting held in Islamabad, Mr. Magnus Brunner, the European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif focused on bolstering Pakistan-EU cooperation in the areas of migration and mobility. This collaboration forms one of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019.

According to Press Information Department, Prime Minister Sharif welcomed Commissioner Brunner on his inaugural visit to Pakistan, stressing the significance Pakistan places on its partnership with the European Union. He reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to enhancing cooperation across all facets of the Strategic Engagement Plan.

The Prime Minister detailed Pakistan’s ongoing initiatives to address irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking through legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, effective enforcement, and international cooperation. He highlighted the need for practical opportunities for safe, orderly, and regular migration to accompany efforts against irregular migration. Expanding legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals, he noted, would satisfy labor-market demands in European countries while mitigating vulnerabilities to smuggling networks.

Commissioner Brunner acknowledged the measures implemented by the Government of Pakistan and expressed confidence that these efforts would support the development of legal migration pathways and promote mutually advantageous labor mobility between Pakistan and the European Union.