Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the expansion of legal migration opportunities for Pakistani professionals and skilled workers in Europe during a meeting in Islamabad. The Prime Minister met with Magnus Brunner, the European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, to discuss these pathways.
"Efforts to address irregular migration should be complemented by practical opportunities for safe, orderly, and regular migration," Sharif said. Brunner stated that measures taken by Pakistan have already led to a 64% decrease in illegal migration to Europe.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that Pakistan has implemented a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal migration. "Following a 64% reduction in illegal migration, our next target is to eliminate it completely," Mohsin Naqvi said.
The International Organization for Migration reported that approximately 7,900 people died or went missing on migration routes in 2025. Since 2014, the International Organization for Migration has documented more than 80,000 deaths and disappearances during migration.
Pakistan and the European Union agreed to strengthen cooperation on border security while promoting legal immigration. Migration and mobility remain one of eight pillars within the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019.
