Pakistanis Trapped in East European Migration Crisis
Unfulfilled Job Promises Fueling Irregular Crossings
Thousands of Pakistani citizens are caught in a deepening migration crisis in Eastern Europe. Many are using Belarus as a transit point, lured by promises of 150,000 jobs that have yet to materialize, leading them to desperate and dangerous illegal border crossings.
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).