ISLAMABAD: Migration must be understood as a human journey rooted in dignity, skills and informed choice, rather than fear or criminalisation, speakers said on Monday at the commemoration of International Migrants Day organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the UN’s body on migration, at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The event brought together diplomats, government officials, journalists, digital creators and hundreds of students, placing young people at the centre of discussions on safe, regular and ethical migration at a time when global narratives around mobility are increasingly shaped by misinformation and political polarisation.

Addressing the gathering, IOM Pakistan Chief of Mission Mio Sato said migration had always shaped societies and identities, including Pakistan’s own history. “Migration is not just a story of movement. It is a story of humanity,” she said, urging young people to look beyond “the bleak picture”.

“When young people have access to accurate information, ethical pathways and skills-based opportunities, they are empowered to make choices that are safe and transformative,” Ms Sato said.

She noted that Pakistan remained one of the world’s major countries of origin for migrants and had also hosted millions of displaced people over decades, making mobility “deeply woven into the country’s social and economic fabric”.

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safer and more organised overseas employment, describing migrants as “integral builders of global communities”.

“Approximately 12 million Pakistanis are working abroad, strengthening the national economy through remittances and skills,” he said, noting that more than 740,000 Pakistanis had gone overseas for employment this year alone.

The minister said initiatives such as skill development programmes and the National Skills Passport were aimed at improving employability and ensuring fair treatment abroad.

He also acknowledged recent reports of Pakistanis being offloaded at airports despite having valid documents.

“High-level meetings have been held and the prime minister has constituted a committee on this issue,” Mr Hussain said, expressing hope that standard operating procedures would be finalised by January to prevent such incidents in future. “Our aim is a safe, legal and secure pathway for migrants, fully aligned with what IOM is advocating.”

A highlight of the programme was an original theatre performance by Theatre Wallay, inspired by real-life migration experiences.

The production captured the aspirations, emotional costs and risks associated with irregular routes, drawing a strong response from the audience and setting the tone for a candid panel discussion that followed.

The panellists emphasised the need to move away from narrow perceptions of success and to recognise skills beyond traditional professions.

Speakers pointed out that global labour shortages existed in diverse sectors, such as healthcare, and that many such roles were unlikely to be replaced by automation.

“Don’t migrate for the sake of going,” Farwa Abbas of the overseas ministry advised students. “Look at what skills are required in a destination country and plan five or ten years ahead. Migration is not just an individual story; it’s the story of families and communities.”

The event concluded with interactive booths run by IOM teams, offering practical guidance on labour mobility, migrant protection, counter-trafficking, migration health assessments and digital information platforms.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2025