Rahim Hayat Qureshi

On Foreign Service of Pakistan🇵🇰 Day, we honour all our Foreign Service Officers for their commitment to public service, advancing Pakistan’s interests and safeguarding the welfare of Pakistan’s citizens abroad. Often serving far from home and loved ones, they strengthen international relations with countries around the world. We also acknowledge their families, whose invaluable support and adaptability are an essential part of this journey. #ForeignServiceOfPakistan #ServingPakistan #PakistanDiplomacy

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Mr. Magnus Brunner in Islamabad today. Recalling recent engagements between Pakistan and the European Union, the DPM/FM expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in Pakistan–EU relations. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation on migration and mobility, a key pillar of the Pakistan–EU Strategic Engagement Plan (2019). The DPM/FM highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking. He stressed that these efforts should be complemented by greater opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals. Commissioner Brunner appreciated Pakistan’s progress in curbing irregular migration and noted the scope for expanding legal pathways for migration. The DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its partnership with the European Union. He expressed the hope that Commissioner Brunner’s visit would lead to practical outcomes that benefit both sides.

1/2 President calls for greater opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani workers and professionals in Europe President Asif Ali Zardari has called for greater opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani workers and professionals in Europe, stressing that Pakistan’s sustained efforts to curb irregular migration should be matched by expanded legal pathways, skills-based mobility and structured cooperation with the European Union. The President expressed these views during a meeting with Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr today. The meeting focused on Pakistan-EU relations, cooperation on migration management, efforts to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and opportunities to facilitate legal migration. President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan attaches great importance to its broad-based cooperation with the European Union and remains committed to implementing the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan. The President highlighted Pakistan’s cooperation with the EU in curbing irregular migration, noting that Pakistan continues to implement the EU Readmission Agreement and has readmitted more than 30,000 individuals over the years. He said Pakistan remains committed to combating human trafficking and irregular migration through stronger legislation, institutional capacity, border controls and international cooperation. Referring to the progress made in reducing irregular migration, the President noted that, according to EU figures, irregular migration from Pakistan reduced by 64% in the last eighteen months, making Pakistan the only country in the region to achieve such a reduction. He said this progress reflects Pakistan’s sustained efforts and underlined the importance of expanding safe and legal avenues for migration. The meeting was informed that Pakistan has sought the European Union’s assistance in strengthening the capacity of the Pakistan Coast Guards and the Federal Investigation Agency to enhance efforts to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling. The President emphasised that legal migration pathways are essential to providing safe opportunities for workers and reducing reliance on smuggling networks. He highlighted the Pakistan-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue as a useful framework for matching Pakistan’s human-resource potential with European labour-market needs and expressed the hope that the next round of dialogue, expected to take place in Brussels early next year, would advance this cooperation. ....

Mr. Magnus Brunner, European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad today. The meeting focused on strengthening Pakistan-EU cooperation in the areas of migration and mobility, one of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. Welcoming Commissioner Brunner on his first visit to Pakistan, the Prime Minister underscored the importance Pakistan attaches to its partnership with the European Union. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation across all pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan. The Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s sustained efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking through legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, effective enforcement, and international cooperation. He emphasized that efforts to address irregular migration should be complemented by practical opportunities for safe, orderly, and regular migration. He noted that expanding legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals would help meet the labour-market needs of European countries while reducing the vulnerability of prospective migrants to smuggling networks. Commissioner Brunner appreciated the measures taken and the cooperation extended by the Government of Pakistan. He expressed confidence that these efforts would contribute positively to the expansion of legal migration pathways and the promotion of mutually beneficial labour mobility between Pakistan and the European Union.

The three remaining Pakistani crew members of MT Honour 25 (Imran Ali, Muhammad Yasin and Syed Husain Yousuf) have been successfully rescued and flown to Addis Ababa, accompanied by a team from the Embassy of Pakistan in Djibouti. The three crew members will be received in Addis Ababa and, InshaAllah, depart for Pakistan on the first available Ethiopian Airlines flight to Karachi, expected on 7 October. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Somalia and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta, present in the vicinity of MT Honour 25, for their assistance and cooperation in securing the release of the crew. Pakistan remains firmly committed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation to combat maritime piracy and safeguard the security and freedom of international maritime routes.