Pakistan and EU Discuss Expanding Legal Migration Pathways
Pakistani leaders and EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner met in Islamabad to expand legal labor migration and curb irregular migration through strategic cooperation.
Pakistani leadership and European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner held a series of meetings in Islamabad on October 13, 2026, to coordinate migration management and labor mobility. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the EU to expand legal migration pathways for professionals and workers to address European labor shortages and dismantle smuggling networks. President Zardari specifically proposed the creation of a European Legal Gateway Office in Pakistan.
Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain proposed establishing employment arrangements with Germany, Finland, Greece, and Ireland, citing a May 2025 Memorandum of Understanding with Italy that created 10,500 jobs as a successful model. The discussions also focused on the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan, emphasizing vocational training, skills development, and the prevention of human trafficking.
Commissioner Brunner praised Pakistan's efforts to curb undocumented migration, noting a 64% reduction in irregular migration to Europe over the last 18 months. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal migration. To sustain these gains, Pakistani officials requested EU assistance to strengthen the capacity of the Pakistan Coast Guards and the Federal Investigation Agency.
