ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Italy, Spain and Greece have agreed on a coordinated strategy to curb illegal immigration following high-level talks in Rome aimed at strengthening cooperation against irregular migration and transnational crime.
The agreement was reached during meetings between Mohsin Naqvi and his counterparts — Matteo Piantedosi, Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Athanasios Plevris — on the sidelines of a four-nation conference in Rome.
According to officials, the discussions focused on coordinated measures to reduce irregular migration flows from Pakistan toward southern Europe. The European ministers acknowledged Pakistan’s recent enforcement efforts and noted a reported 47 percent reduction in illegal migration toward their countries.
Legal pathways and institutional cooperation
The four countries agreed to promote structured legal migration channels as a means to discourage irregular movement. Officials said that strengthening lawful avenues for work and travel can help reduce reliance on smuggling networks.
In a key outcome, participants decided that the European Union would enhance Pakistan’s capacity-building efforts to strengthen institutions working against illegal immigration. This includes support for law enforcement agencies and improved coordination mechanisms.
The ministers also agreed to develop a joint policy framework to address illegal migration, human trafficking and drug smuggling. As part of the understanding, individuals involved in serious offences will be repatriated from Europe to Pakistan for legal proceedings, in accordance with applicable laws.
Rapid response mechanism
The meeting concluded with agreement to establish a rapid response mechanism to enable timely information-sharing and coordinated action between the four countries.
It was further decided that the next round of talks will be held in Pakistan later this year.
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Naqvi stated that Pakistan has intensified action against networks involved in illegal immigration and emphasized the need for a joint mechanism to address the issue. Senior Pakistani officials, including Ambassador Ali Javed and FIA Director General Dr. Usman Anwar, were also present during the meetings.
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