GUJRAT: Tough conditions and poor pay in some Gulf and Middle East region are driving Pakistanis working there to also use the deadliest illegal migration channels to reach Europe.

Two of the five repatriated immigrants who reached the Sialkot Airport on Monday had departed from Muscat after working there up to eight years. They moved to African countries through various human traffickers in hope of reaching greener pastures.

Meanwhile, the repatriation of Pakistani immigrants who survived the Mauritania boat tragedy earlier this month have started returning to Pakistan.

Five such immigrants returned from Senegal and Mauritania on Monday as, so far, 11 such immigrants have been repatriated to Pakistan via the Sialkot International Airport during the last three days.

Of the five, three belonged to Gujrat district, including Muhammad Tayyab of Dheerkey Kalan village, Zubair Shahzad of Kulachor and Zakaullah of Kathala Chenab whereas the others hailed from Kamoke and Mandi Bahauddin.

Official sources said these immigrants had departed for African countries Ethiopia, Senegal and Mauritania from Faisalabad, Lahore, Karachi and Sialkot airports during the last four to six months and they remained stranded at the safe houses controlled by international human trafficking mafias. More than 40 Pakistanis were feared dead in the incident while 22 were among the survivors now staying in Morrocan camps.

The Foreign Office has already announced the repatriation of survivors in different batches from Monday.

Meanwhile, FIA Gujranwala Zone claimed to have arrested three more human traffickers involved in different cases.

A spokesman for FIA said that the two human smugglers -- Imran Haider and Farrukh Mushtaq -- of Mohalla Jabuke, tehsil Kamoki, had been arrested.

The accused extorted Rs 900,000 from complainant Waqas Khaaliq of Gujranwala on the pretext of sending him to Canada on a work visa.

Similarly FIA Gujrat circle arrested Rashid Mehmood from Sara-i- Alamgir town in connection with a case lodged against him.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2025