IOM is recognized as a critical partner within migration management efforts in Pakistan and has enjoyed close cooperation with the Government of Pakistan for a number of years, with support provided at both the operational and policy levels. The core government counterparts for IOM’s migration management work in Pakistan include the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MoPHRD) and Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC).

Active Projects:

Readmission Case Management System (RCMS) (2017 – 2022)

IOM has been closely working with the Government of Pakistan to improve the Readmission process under the European Readmission Capacity Building Facility (EURCAP), funded by the European Union (EU). IOM, in partnership with National Database and Registration Authority of Pakistan (NADRA) has developed the Readmission Case Management System (RCMS) to digitize the processing of readmission applications under framework of the EU-Pakistan Readmission Agreement. The RCMS was developed and deployed in four EU Member States (France, Belgium, Greece and Germany) in 2018. Following the pilot phase, IOM has successfully completed deployment of system to additional 17 countries (Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta) as of July 2022. Adopting a dual approach, IOM not only makes the system accessible to the member states but also extends capacity building support to all stakeholders on broader issues related to sustainable return and reintegration.

Strengthening Government of Pakistan’s Capacities for Countering Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) (2021 – 2024)

With financial assistance from the Government of Denmark, IOM Pakistan is supporting the Government of Pakistan in delivering a coordinated response to combat TIP and SOM, by adopting a rights-based and gender-sensitive approach. The project aims to achieve this objective through implementation of a range of interlinked and mutually reinforcing outcomes relating to improving knowledge and skills of border management authorities, enhancing awareness of target populations on risks of irregular migration, and supporting relevant authorities to provide quality protection, assistance, and reintegration services to victims of human trafficking and vulnerable smuggled migrants.

Global Action to Prevent and Address Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) – Asia and Middle East (2018 - 2022)

Under the framework of Global Action to Prevent and Address TIP and SOM (GLO.ACT), a joint initiative by EU and UNODC, IOM is leading implementation of outcome 5 on ‘Provision of Protection and Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants’. In close collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency, IOM is working towards enhancing capacities of stakeholders as well as providing technical support to streamline existing mechanisms for victim identification, screening, referral and assistance in Pakistan. Moreover, IOM is providing direct assistance to vulnerable returning migrants, specifically victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), through a service provider. Services include but are not limited to the provision of shelter, medical care, psycho-social support, basic supplies, and livelihood assistance; and are determined on a case-to-case basis.

Enhancing Border Management Capacity of Government of Pakistan (2022 – 2024)

With financial support from the Government of Japan, IOM is contributing towards efforts of Government of Pakistan to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration through implementation of efficient and effective border and migration management practices. IOM is doing so through implementation of a range of outputs such as trainings on specialized topics, participation of government officials in international trainings and events for exposure to best practices, provision of document examination tools and equipment, refurbishment of airport reception centers and infrastructure upgrades for selected border crossing points in Pakistan.

Strengthening Social and Economic Resilience and Reintegration of Returning Pakistani Labour Migrants (2021 – 2022)

Pakistan has one of the largest diaspora populations in the world, with Pakistani migrant workers residing in over 115 countries. Return migration to Pakistan remains a persistent phenomenon and despite support efforts, returnees face multiple reintegration challenges, especially finding livelihood opportunities. With the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), IOM is implementing this project to enhance social and economic resilience of marginalized returning Pakistani migrants and their families. Using a rights-based and gender sensitive approach, IOM is providing skills development trainings and start up support to the most vulnerable returning migrants in four districts of Punjab province, namely Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi.

Managing Human Mobility in the context of Climate Change in Pakistan (2022 – 2024)

In close coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), IOM Pakistan is implementing a project for Managing Climate Change Induced Migration in Pakistan. Main interventions include related research and policy recommendations for mainstreaming internal migration into climate change adaptation planning, capacity building support for government and stakeholders on Migration, Environment and Climate Change and provision of a technical resource on adaptation planning for the MoCC. IOM will also establish and facilitate a ‘Migration and Climate Change Synergy Group’ that will bring together all relevant stakeholders and hold discussions on integrated approaches to managing human mobility through coordination and cooperation. This project falls within the Government of Pakistan’ objectives of improving response to climate change adaptation and mitigation and is of relevance to strategic and policy goals in the 2012 National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and the National Adaptation Plan Process.

Engaging Diaspora in Strengthening the Health Sector in Pakistan (2021 – 2022)

IOM secured funding through IOM Development Fund to support the Ministry of Health (MoH), in order to strengthen the healthcare sector in Pakistan by engaging qualified Pakistani diaspora health professionals, through four components which include creation of outreach and engagement platform, piloting programme for health sector strengthening with diaspora support, increasing capacities of public and private health institutions and piloting programme to connect diaspora emergency specialists to Pakistani emergency response initiatives. Project partners also include Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MoPHRD), National Institute of Health (NIH), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations and Coordination (MNHSRC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Related Content

Migration Management