PM Shehbaz, EU official discuss Pakistan's efforts to curb migrant smuggling

PM Shehbaz, EU official discuss Pakistan's efforts to curb migrant smuggling.

Key points

• KhanSyed Irfan Raza Published October 13, 2026 Updated October 13, 2026 11: 14pm.
• "The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation on migration and mobility, a key pillar of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan (2019), " the FO remarked.
• Brunner additionally called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the President's House today, according to a two-part statement issued by the official presidential account on social media.
• Separately, Brunner additionally met with Interior Minister Naqvi in Islamabad, where they discussed enhancing cooperation in border security, legal migration and border management.
• He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthening cooperation throughout all pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.

Iftikhar A. KhanSyed Irfan Raza Published October 13, 2026 Updated October 13, 2026 11: 14pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel.

ISLAMABAD: European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday to discuss strengthening Pakistan-EU cooperation in migration and mobility, one of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019.

Welcoming Commissioner Brunner on his first visit to Pakistan, the prime minister underscored the importance Pakistan attaches to its partnership with the EU, according to a press release by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

For context, the premier highlighted Pakistan's sustained efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking through legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, effective enforcement and international cooperation.

PM Shehbaz emphasised that efforts to address irregular migration should be complemented by practical opportunities for safe, orderly and regular migration.

He observed that expanding legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals would assist meet the labour market needs of European countries while reducing prospective migrants' vulnerability to smuggling networks.

Brunner appreciated the measures taken and cooperation extended by the administration of Pakistan, the PMO stated.

He expressed confidence that these efforts would contribute to expanding legal migration pathways and promoting mutually beneficial labour mobility between Pakistan and the European Union. President Zardari calls for more legal migration opportunities.

"The meeting focused on Pakistan-EU relations, cooperation on migration management, efforts to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and opportunities to facilitate legal migration, " the statement remarked.

President Zardari pressed greater opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani workers and professionals in Europe. He emphasised that Pakistan's sustained efforts to curb irregular migration should be matched by "expanded legal pathways, skills-based mobility and structured cooperation" with the EU.

He remarked that Pakistan attached great importance to its cooperation with the EU and reaffirmed the country's commitment to implementing the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.

In practice, the president highlighted the cooperation between the two countries in curbing irregular migration, noting that Pakistan continued to implement the EU Readmission Agreement and had readmitted more than 30, 000 individuals over the years. He stressed the country's commitment to combating human trafficking and irregular migration through "stronger legislation, institutional capacity, border controls and international cooperation", the statement remarked.

Meanwhile, the president observed that, according to EU figures, irregular migration from Pakistan reduced by 64 per cent in the last 18 months, making it the only country in the region to achieve such a reduction. He remarked this progress reflected Pakistan's "sustained efforts" and underlined the importance of expanding safe and legal avenues for migration.

According to the president's office, the session was informed that Pakistan had sought the EU's assistance in strengthening the capacity of the Pakistan Coast Guards and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to enhance efforts to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling.

"The president emphasised that legal migration pathways are essential to providing safe opportunities for workers and reducing reliance on smuggling networks, " the statement continued.

He highlighted the Pakistan-EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue as a "useful framework for matching Pakistan's human-resource potential with European labour-market needs", and expressed the hope that the next round of dialogue – projected to take place in Brussels early next year – would advance this cooperation.

He expressed the country's readiness to work with the EU on a structured mechanism to match its workforce with European labour-market requirements.

President Zardari additionally welcomed the expansion of the EU Talent Partnerships framework and called on greater opportunities for skilled workers and professionals, including through circular migration.

He expressed the hope that, given this partnership and the country's efforts to curb irregular migration, the EU would consider establishing a European Legal Gateway Office in Pakistan.

He remarked Pakistan and the EU have a "broad-based relationship spanning political dialogue, trade, development cooperation and other areas of mutual interest", the statement went on. He expressed confidence that continued engagement would strengthen mutual understanding and support advance practical cooperation on migration and mobility.

Commissioner Brunner appreciated Pakistan's role in maintaining regional balance and remarked Pakistan has done an "amazing job" in this regard, the statement observed.

He additionally commended Pakistan's efforts to prevent irregular migrants from undertaking dangerous journeys that cost numerous of them their lives.

In practice, the commissioner was accompanied by EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis; Director for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission Henrik Nielsen; and member of Brunner's cabinet, Grigorios Delavekouras.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and former federal minister Naveed Qamar additionally attended the gathering, the statement continued. Dar meets commissioner, highlights efforts to curb irregular migration.

Meanwhile, the EU commissioner additionally met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, during which the deputy premier highlighted Pakistan's efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking, the Foreign Office (FO) stated.

He stressed that these efforts should be complemented by greater opportunities for legal migration for Pakistani skilled workers and professionals.

According to a statement issued by the FO, Dar expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in Pakistan-EU relations.

It continued that Brunner appreciated Pakistan's progress in curbing irregular migration and observed the scope for expanding legal pathways for migration.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthening its partnership with the EU. He expressed the hope that Brunner's visit would lead to "practical outcomes that benefit both sides", the statement continued. Naqvi, EU commissioner discuss border security.

Separately, Brunner additionally met with Interior Minister Naqvi in Islamabad, where they discussed enhancing cooperation in border security, legal migration and border management. The session was followed by delegation-level negotiations.

Brunner appreciated Pakistan's measures against illegal migration, describing the 64pc reduction in illegal migration to Europe resulting from the country's efforts as commendable.

He remarked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had demonstrated professional competence despite limited resources. It was commendable. He continued that the decline in illegal migration would pave the way for legal migration. Naqvi remarked Pakistan had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal migration.

"After a 64pc reduction in illegal migration, our next target is its complete elimination, " the interior minister remarked, describing illegal migration as a serious global problem.

For context, the two sides additionally discussed the promotion of legal migration and enhancing opportunities for skilled workers between Pakistan and the European Union.

Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in immigration, institutional coordination and border management, and to work together on the EU's Eastern Corridor Initiative to eliminate illegal migration.

They additionally discussed increasing mutual cooperation to enhance the capacity of Pakistan Coast Guards and agreed to rise collaboration to promote border security and legal migration. Brunner assured Pakistan of all feasible cooperation in this regard.

For now, PM Shehbaz, EU official discuss Pakistan' s efforts to curb migrant smuggling remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.