ISLAMABAD, Pakistan’s efforts to combat illegal migration received international recognition at the high-level meeting of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in Vienna, where the European Union commended the country’s effective measures that have significantly reduced irregular migration.
Addressing the conference, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said Pakistan’s strategy against illegal migration had become a model for other countries.
He attributed the success to the policies and coordinated efforts led by Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, stating that illegal migration had declined by 47 percent under their leadership.
Chaudhry described irregular migration as a global challenge that extends beyond national borders and stressed that no country can address the issue in isolation.
He called for stronger international cooperation, saying joint strategies are essential to dismantle migrant smuggling networks and curb human trafficking.
He emphasized that expanding opportunities for legal migration has become an urgent necessity, adding that sustainable solutions require countries to create safe, orderly and regular migration pathways. Without promoting lawful migration, he said, effectively preventing illegal migration would remain difficult.
The minister also highlighted the importance of modern technology, intelligence sharing and coordinated international action in combating human smuggling, describing these tools as critical to addressing increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
Participants at the Global Alliance meeting also praised the performance of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for its role in tackling illegal migration and disrupting human smuggling operations, recognizing the agency’s contribution to the country’s broader enforcement strategy.
The meeting brought together international stakeholders to strengthen cooperation against migrant smuggling and promote coordinated responses to one of the world’s most pressing cross-border challenges.
