ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday called for stronger parliamentary coordination, evidence-based legislation and sustained institutional dialogue to promote safe, orderly and regular migration while safeguarding the rights, dignity and legitimate interests of Pakistani migrants.
Addressing the First Parliamentary Dialogue on Migration Governance in Pakistan, Gilani welcomed Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Pakistan Mio Sato and appreciated IOM’s continued partnership with the Parliament of Pakistan in strengthening migration governance.
He also commended the Office of Special Initiatives and Parliamentary Development Unit of the Senate Secretariat for organising the parliamentary initiative.
The Chairman Senate said migration was a multidimensional issue closely linked with employment, economic opportunities, human development, security and regional cooperation.
He stressed that migration should not be viewed solely through a security lens but addressed through a humane, balanced, evidence-based and development-oriented approach.
Gilani emphasised the need to protect migrant workers, promote safe and legal pathways, ensure ethical recruitment, facilitate remittances and safeguard Pakistanis abroad against racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia.
He also highlighted the growing nexus between climate change and migration, noting that climate-induced displacement was emerging as an increasingly serious challenge for Pakistan.
He called for predictable, accessible and adequate international climate finance, particularly grants, to strengthen climate resilience, protect vulnerable communities and reduce the risk of forced displacement.
Referring to Pakistan’s longstanding humanitarian contribution, Chairman Gilani said the country had hosted millions of Afghan refugees over several decades and provided them access to essential facilities and livelihood opportunities.
He said Pakistan had also made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and continued to play a constructive role in promoting regional and global peace.
He stressed the importance of bipartisan parliamentary consensus on migration governance, saying the issue transcended political affiliations and directly affected families and communities across Pakistan.
Mio Sato, Chief of Mission, IOM Pakistan, highlighted Pakistan’s role as a country of origin, transit and destination, stressing the importance of international cooperation and practical national-level action on migration governance.
Rida Qazi, Adviser to the Chairman Senate on Special Initiatives and Parliamentary Development Unit, said the dialogue would help strengthen Parliament’s capacity for effective legislative action and oversight of migration governance.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Masood Malik highlighted the impact of climate change, including floods and rising temperatures, which had displaced millions of Pakistanis.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi emphasised the need for strong policies, reliable data and effective coordination to ensure dignified solutions for migrants and host communities.
Professor Yaqoob Khan Bangash of IBA Karachi presented an overview of Pakistan’s migration profile, highlighting its role as a country of origin, host and transit, and outlined priorities for stronger legislative oversight.
A panel discussion featuring Member National Assembly (MNA) Syed Ali Kasim Gilani, Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani, MNA Romina Khurshid Alam, Professor Yaqoob Khan Bangash and Mio Sato examined progress, gaps and priorities in Pakistan’s migration governance, with a focus on strengthening Parliament’s role.
Earlier, Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani held a meeting with IOM Chief of Mission Mio Sato, who called on him at Parliament House.
During the meeting, the Chairman appreciated the continued cooperation between the Parliament of Pakistan and IOM and commended capacity-building initiatives, particularly the Parliamentary Dialogue on Migration Governance and training under the Essentials of Migration Management (EMM 2.0).
Emphasising the importance of people-to-people contacts and parliamentary diplomacy, Chairman Gilani said Parliamentary Friendship Groups were playing an important role in strengthening bilateral relations and fostering greater understanding among nations.
The meeting was attended by MNA Romina Khurshid Alam, Secretary Senate Syed Hasnain Haider, Adviser to Chairman Senate on Special Initiatives and Parliamentary Development Unit Rida Qazi, and Principal Secretary to Chairman Senate Rabia Anwar.
