Islamabad: Today at the Serena Hotel, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) signed an Implementation Agreement to boost safe and legal migration pathways through the Centres for Migration and Development (ZME) Programme. This partnership aims to support Pakistani labor migrants and their reintegration, enhancing both countries’ longstanding cooperation on migration management.

According to Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development, the agreement was signed by Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Federal Secretary of MOPHRD, and Maria-Jose Poddey, GIZ Pakistan’s Country Director, in the presence of notable officials including Dr. Sebastian Paust, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy. This collaboration underlines both nations’ commitment to fostering skilled labor migration as a means to reduce poverty and support economic and social development in Pakistan.

During the ceremony, Federal Minister for OP and HRD, Mr. Chaudhry Salik Hussain, praised the initiative as a pivotal moment in supporting the Pakistani diaspora. He emphasized the partnership’s role in valuing and prioritizing the welfare of overseas Pakistanis. The ceremony also set the stage for a planning workshop involving various stakeholders, which aimed to craft an action plan for the ZME programme’s successful implementation.

GIZ’s involvement is set to include enhancements in emigration processes and the establishment of a comprehensive database for returnees, facilitating improved advisory services. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the 60-year history of Pak-German cooperation, celebrated for transforming migration challenges into opportunities for development through collaborative and well-managed initiatives.