'Pakistan’s skilled workforce best for Europe's needs'

BRUSSELS: Pakistan could play an important role in expanding the pool of skilled immigrants within European Union (EU) as its highly skilled workforce can cater to the needs of any country, a senior Pakistani journalist told the fourth meeting of European Migration Forum.

Held for the fourth consecutive year by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the 2018 Forum has, as its main theme, the challenges and opportunities involved in integrating migrants into the EU’s labour markets.

Beside EU lawmakers, well known NGO’s, other notables of the civil societies were also called to take part in the event.

Veteran Pakistani journalist Azfar Bukhari, also took part in the discussion.

While addressing the forum Mr Bukhari said that Europe will never be able to stop migration.

He emphasized that the refugee crisis in EU may be subsiding, but migration globally will not stop.

“It is foolish to think that European societies will remain homogeneous and migration-free if one erects fences as in the current century the world has really become a global village,” said Bukhari.

Migration, he said, is a complex issue and the time has come to start thinking, talking and acting about migration in a more comprehensive and long-term way, putting in place policies aimed at promoting integration and inclusion.

Answering the questions of the participants Bukhari replied over the last two years, Europe has been positively engaged in addressing the immediate urgencies of the global migration and refugee crisis but a lot still remains to be done.

He said EU needed to deliver the promises to evacuate thousands of migrants from Libya and Syria either through resettlement or assisted voluntary return in the coming months.

Answering a question regarding illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bukhari replied in order to tackle illegal migration EU must also enhance legal channels for economic migration with skilled workers.

Pakistan could play an important role in expanding the pool of skills immigrants within EU as our highly skilled workforce can cater to the needs of any country, he added.

Lazar Lazarov, deputy minister of Labour and Social Policy, also met Bukhari.

In a detail discussion Mr Lazarov expressed his interest in skilled Labour from Pakistan and also assured to put this proposal in the next cabinet meeting.