CHAGAI: Illegal migration by Pakistani citizens in search of better livelihood is growing as 7,984 Pakistani migrants, who were aiming to reach European countries, have been deported after being arrested in different parts of Iran in August and September this year.

According to official sources, these people were handed over to Levies Force officials on daily basis and then prosecuted by the Federal Investigation Agency after interrogation.

Deportation of illegal Pakistani migrants continued via Taftan-Mir Javeh border in October as well, the sources said, adding that the migrants included women and children too.

Nearly 8,000 Pakistanis deported from Iran in two months

According to Levies Force officials, a majority of the migrants belong to certain areas of Punjab while people from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtun­khwa, Sindh and Balochistan are also among those who strive to reach Europe through Iran and Turkey. The whole movement is organised by a chain of human smugglers.

The Levies Force officials say that due to lack of space at the FIA detention centre for a large number of people, the deportees are being received in a limited number on daily basis through Raahdari Gate at Taftan, a town near Pak-Iran border in Chagai district.

According to data available with Dawn, 2,955 Pakistani migrants were deported by Iranian authorities in August followed by 5,029 in September.

Sources believe that human trafficking through this route is at its peak and the traffickers are using Chagai, Washuk, Kharan, Panjgur and adjoining districts to run their business.

Security forces in these districts have foiled several human trafficking attempts by arresting dozens of migr­ants and a few traffickers.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2020