The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the European Union's Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) have commended Pakistan's effective measures to curb illegal immigration, in meetings with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad on Thursday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The appreciation came during separate meetings between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Director General International Centre for Migration Policy Development Susanne Raab and Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens in Islamabad today.
During these meetings, it was decided to enhance mutual cooperation with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and Frontex to prevent illegal immigration. The two sides expressed the commitment to further strengthen joint efforts regarding border management and the curbing of illegal immigration.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohsin Naqvi said achieving a 64 percent reduction in illegal immigration from Pakistan to Europe despite limited resources was a challenging task. He said Pakistan accepted the prevention of illegal immigration as a challenge, but the entire team worked round the clock to achieve this challenge.
The Interior Minister expressed the resolve to curtail illegal immigration by one hundred percent is the next target, which will be achieved at all costs. He said opening of new avenues for legal migration is inevitable to curb illegal migration besides adopting modern technology and officers' training are necessary to prevent illegal immigration.
Mohsin Naqvi said efforts are underway to enhance the institutional capacity of relevant agencies in line with modern requirements to make border management more effective.
He said the installation of cameras equipped with modern technology at five hundred immigration counters across all airports in the country is the main task ahead.
The Interior Minister emphasized that cooperation with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the European Union's Border and Coast Guard Agency is of key importance.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director General International Centre for Migration Policy Development commended Pakistan's efforts against illegal immigration.
The International Centre for Migration Policy Development delegation lauds FIA's risk analysis report saying that all possible cooperation will be extended to Pakistan in achieving the goal of completely eliminating illegal immigration.
Reporter Awais Kiyani