PAKISTAN - MIGRATION IN 1998

Pakistan finally buckled down to do something about the 2.5-3 million irregular migrants in the country. A bill on the registration of irregular migrants in Pakistan would soon be deliberated in the National Assembly. The bill provides for the registration of irregular migrants and the issuance of work permits to them. Irregular migrants (1.5-2.5 million are said to be in Karachi) comprise of Bangladeshis, Afghans, Thais and Myanmars. They are believed to be working in garment factories, fisheries and other manufacturing firms.

The right to vote has been extended to overseas Pakistanis and embassies are awaiting instructions on registration. Meanwhile, a project directed at overseas Pakistanis did not fare well. The Overseas Pakistani Foundation’s program to sell residential plots to overseas Pakistanis did not generate much interest and revenues. It hoped to bring in US$30 million but as of the August deadline, the project fetched only US$1.57 million. The government’s decision to freeze foreign currency accounts and corrupt practices may have discouraged overseas Pakistanis to purchase lots under the scheme. Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif acknowledged that it was a mistake to freeze foreign currency accounts on 28 May (an emergency measure following the censure from the international community over the nuclear-testing issue).

Thousands of Pakistanis have been stranded in Red Cross camps in Bangladesh for the past 26 years. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has been seeking ways to pursue the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis who also made sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan.