Pakistan Records 64pc Decline in Illegal Migration to Europe

Naqvi Sets 100pc Target After 64pc Drop in Migration

By News Desk On Sep 17, 2026

ISLAMABAD: (Mudassar Iqbal) – Pakistan has recorded a 64 percent decline in irregular migration to Europe, with the European Union’s Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) appreciating the country’s efforts to curb illegal migration.

The development came during separate meetings between Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, ICMPD Director General Suzanne Raab and Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens in Islamabad.

The meetings focused on strengthening cooperation to prevent irregular migration, combat human smuggling and improve border management. The sides also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding joint measures in these areas.

Naqvi said achieving a 64 percent reduction despite limited resources had been a challenging task, adding that the government had treated the prevention of irregular migration as a major challenge.

“The next target is a 100 percent reduction in illegal migration, and we will achieve it at all costs,” the interior minister said.

He stressed the need to establish new legal migration pathways to discourage irregular migration and called for greater use of modern technology and enhanced training for officers dealing with migration and human smuggling.

Naqvi said Pakistan was also working to strengthen the capacity of relevant institutions and modernise border management through better technology and coordinated action among government departments.

He announced plans to install technology-equipped cameras at all 500 immigration counters at airports across the country. The system, he said, would help identify suspected cases of illegal migration and human smuggling at an early stage and facilitate action against those involved.

The interior minister described cooperation with ICMPD and Frontex as important to Pakistan’s efforts to address irregular migration.

ICMPD Director General Suzanne Raab appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to curb irregular migration and praised the Federal Investigation Agency’s risk analysis report. She assured that ICMPD would provide all possible cooperation to support Pakistan’s efforts to further reduce irregular migration.