Measures stressed to check illegal immigration

LAHORE: Government should establish an authority to stop illegal immigration. The authority should be empowered to take action against those who mislead less educated people and trap them into illegal immigration. Political stability and social justice in economic sector can stop growing disillusionment in the country.

These views were expressed by the discussants at Jang Economic Session on ‘Brain Drain & Illegal Immigration – what is solution to important national issue’. The panellists were Dr Yasir Mehmood, Ansar Javaid, Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi, Taimur Kayani and Rana Sajjad while moderated by Sikindar Lodhi.

Dr Yasir Mehmood said Bhutan is a low-income country. There is a need to work on improving happiness index of Pakistan to increase at least above from Bhutan. The demand of nurses, electricians and plumbers is very high abroad. The government should work on producing skilled workforce to send them abroad. Pakistan’s economic policies and economy are lacking growth. There is a need to develop academia-industry linkages and produce workforce accordingly. Legal measures should be taken to stop illegal immigration and law and order should be improved in the country, the expert said.

Ansar Javaid said that labour class and skilled workers are in majority of illegal immigration while doctors, professionals, engineers fall in the category of brain drain. The illegal immigration is promoted in a country where economic injustice, economic behaviour, political conditions, depression, growing population and people do not have bread. Country with a high per capita income has a high brain drain wile a low per capita income country has a high level of illegal immigration. It is important to improve economic conditions, the speaker said.

Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi said there was no concept of illegal immigration in past. Months of correspondence went on to study abroad. Now every country makes its visa rules strict which results an increase in illegal immigration. Pakistan is the only country without consultative regulatory system. A clear difference has to be made between immigration and education in Pakistan. Besides, provide career counselling to the youth and professionals to get more opportunities to earn jobs abroad. This will create soft image of Pakistan in the world, the speaker said.

Taimur Kayani said fifty thousand Pakistani are in Malaysian jails. These illegal immigrants are called red pigeon. Illegal immigration is more dangerous than brain drain. There is a need to work on skill development, he said.

Rana Sajjad said legal immigration is right of every Pakistani. Brain drain is happening in the legal system. However, illegal immigration is result of the country’s economic situation. The working class is moving out due to financial conditions and desperation. There is a need to establish a legal immigration regulatory authority and discouraging illegal immigration is imperative.