‘Migration to other countries can counter unemployment’

[LRE]

* Session on ‘Overseas Pakistani Workers: Significance and Issues of Migration’ to encourage awareness
* PML-N MNA says migration is a core issue facing the country and there is need for appropriate policy-making
* LHRLA president says country needs to ratify and implement International Convention on Protection of Migrant Workers

Staff Report

LAHORE: Around 1.3 to 1.5 million people enter the Pakistani job market annually while the jobs created range from 0.6 to 0.7 million, thus migration to other countries is appropriate to counter unemployment, speakers said in a session titled ‘Overseas Pakistani Workers: Significance and Issues of Migration’ at a local hotel on Wednesday.

The session created awareness on the issues of migration and their significance, emphasising the need to formulate appropriate policies. Speakers at the session said that overseas Pakistanis could be of great importance to the country if a strategy was devised and implemented to utilise their abilities.

Policy Planning Cell Labour and Manpower Division Chairman Sabur Ghayur said that promoting migration could address the unemployment and poverty issues facing the country. He said that those who went abroad broadened their vision and skills and served the country upon their return. He said that the number of people going abroad was increasing with every passing year. He said that 127,784 people went abroad in 1996, adding that 287,033 people went abroad in 2007. He said that 4,000,000 people are expected to go abroad legally in 2008. He said that overseas Pakistanis sent billions of rupees back to the country in the form of foreign remittances.

Core issue: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly (MNA) Naseer Ahmed Bhutta said that this was a core issue facing the country. He said that the overseas migrants formed the backbone of the nation’s economy. He said that the issues and opinions shared by experts were of crucial importance at the provincial level. He vowed to pass a bill and ensure that all necessary measures were taken to involve all the relevant officials to join hands in devising policies in this regard. Pakistan Institute of Development in Economics (PIDE) Chief Researcher Dr Zafar Moin Nasir said that issues related to migrant workers had a massive impact on the economy of the country. He said that proper policy making could increase the level of remittances entering the country, which would provide a stable source for maintaining the foreign reserve at a certain level.

Signatory: Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) President Zia Awan said that the country had to become a signatory to the International Convention on Protection of Migrant Workers to protect the rights of migrant workers and to avoid rampant violations of labor rights. He also said that despite ratifying eight conventions of the International Labor Organisation (ILO), their implementation had remained weak throughout the country.

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