Pakistanis Stranded in Europe as Belarus Job Ploy Falters

Thousands Caught in Migration Crisis After Unfulfilled Job Promises

Thousands of Pakistani citizens seeking overseas work are facing hardship and exploitation in Eastern Europe, with Belarus emerging as a deceptive gateway. A bilateral agreement promising 150,000 jobs has yielded no concrete opportunities, leaving migrants vulnerable and resorting to dangerous illegal crossings.

Unmet Promises Ignite Crisis

Following Prime Minister **Shehbaz Sharif’s** April visit to Belarus, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to facilitate employment for 150,000 skilled Pakistani workers in sectors like IT, healthcare, and engineering. However, over two months later, the initiative remains entirely on paper, with no framework or licensed recruiters in place.

Officials from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE) confirmed the lack of development. “There are no official channels or guidelines for sending workers to Belarus,” stated a senior BE&OE officer who wished to remain anonymous. “Nothing has materialized since the agreement was signed,” they added, highlighting the absence of any structured migration pathway.

Belarus: A Deceptive Entry Point

Belarus, known for its lenient visa policies for Pakistanis, has become a transit point for those seeking to enter Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia illegally, often with the ultimate goal of reaching Germany. Upon arrival, migrants encounter significant economic challenges, including inflation and language barriers, with few actual job offers.

The promised minimum wage of $1,100 appears to be a misrepresentation in a country where average monthly salaries hover between $670 and $700. This stark reality, coupled with a lack of government-verified recruiters, leaves many workers feeling deceived and trapped.

Urgent Calls for Government Action

Migration experts and policy analysts are urging the government to intervene swiftly. Recommendations include public awareness campaigns on the dangers of irregular migration, engagement with EU authorities for the humane treatment of detained migrants, and stricter enforcement against unlicensed recruitment agents. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 1,300 people attempted to cross the Polish border from Belarus in 2023 alone, underscoring the scale of the issue (IOM, 2024).

Humanitarian Concerns Mount

There is also a growing demand for Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad to provide essential support, including temporary shelter, legal aid, and repatriation services. Without immediate diplomatic and domestic action, thousands more are at risk of becoming ensnared in this escalating humanitarian crisis, caught between unfulfilled promises at home and increasingly stringent borders abroad.

MOU Unimplemented, Workers Misled

An agreement signed between Pakistan and Belarus earlier this year aimed to facilitate significant overseas employment for skilled Pakistani workers. However, officials confirm that no concrete framework for deploying this workforce has been developed. This inaction leaves many individuals vulnerable to exploitation.

A senior official from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE), speaking anonymously, stated, There are no official channels or guidelines for sending workers to Belarus. Nothing has materialized since the agreement was signed. The absence of structured pathways is pushing individuals towards irregular routes.

Belarus: A Gateway to Uncertainty

Belarus has become a preferred entry point due to its relatively lenient visa policies for Pakistanis. Upon arrival, however, migrants face economic hardship, inflation, and language barriers. The promised minimum wage of $1,100 appears unrealistic, with average monthly salaries in Belarus hovering between $670 and $700.

This stark reality prompts many migrants to attempt illegal crossings into neighboring Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, often with the ultimate goal of reaching Germany.

Calls for Urgent Government Action

Migration experts, including those from the Centre for Migration Research Pakistan (CMRP), are urging the Pakistani government to intervene. They recommend launching public awareness campaigns about the dangers of irregular migration and enforcing stricter penalties against unlicensed recruitment agents.

Recommendations also include engaging with European Union authorities to ensure the humane treatment of detained migrants. There is a growing demand for Pakistani missions abroad to provide essential emergency assistance, such as temporary shelter, legal aid, and repatriation services.

The lack of action exacerbates a growing humanitarian crisis, leaving Pakistanis in a precarious position between unfulfilled domestic promises and increasingly hostile foreign borders. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as of early 2024, over 20,000 irregular migrants were recorded along the EU’s borders, highlighting the scale of such journeys (IOM 2024).

BE&OE

Deploying large workforce in Belarus: there’s no framework yet – Pakistan