The Silk Routes Facility supports the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) in development of a National Emigration and Welfare Policy for Overseas Pakistanis.
National Emigration and Welfare Policy for Overseas Pakistani
The Scope of the Policy
This policy provides a tailored response to issues related to labour migration through three key areas: (a) promotion of safe, orderly and fair emigration, (b) protection and welfare of overseas Pakistanis and their families, and (c) engagement of Pakistani diaspora in development process and reintegration or return migrants – thereby covering all stages of labour migration.
Improving Migration Governance
In this regard, several policy responses have been highlighted to adequately manage and complement the labour migration framework in Pakistan. While due importance has been given to all policy responses, emphasis has been placed on improving the governance of migration in the country through a collaborative effort on part of all stakeholders – especially with regards to prevention of human trafficking and forced labour through responsible border management; protection of workers’ rights from fraudulent practices during the recruitment process; reduction of costs of recruitment with a focus to enhance development gains. In addition, pre-departure systems of instilling skills, knowledge and experience have been made a prominent focus.
In Pakistan, labour migration is a multidimensional phenomenon that requires effective cooperation among different stakeholders. The Policy promotes this cooperation and recognises MOPHRD’s leading role in coordination of the work of all relevant bodies, resulting in improved, integrated and efficient migration outcomes for overseas Pakistani workers and their families.
Addressing inequalities
The policy has included two major measures to make the emigration process inclusive in Pakistan. The low emigration provinces, such as Sindh and Baluchistan, will be encouraged and supported to attract more workers for overseas employment. Further, due attention will be given to women so that equal opportunities for emigration are offered across the country – thus managing and promoting gender mainstreaming in the labour migration management system.
The policy helps make the migration process for intending migrants more fair and equitable. It provides solutions related to legal frameworks on migration, recruitment practices, skills development, accessibility to other markets beyond the Gulf region, better protection of labour migrants, and the welfare of overseas Pakistanis and their families left behind.
Maximising the Development Potential of Migration
From a development perspective, the Policy recognises the integral role played by overseas Pakistanis and incentivises investment opportunities for them, including transfer of skills and technology. Further, it aims to increase inflows of remittances through formal banking channels. It also pays due attention to the reintegration needs of overseas Pakistanis and returning migrants and offers solutions in the form of reintegration services so that development efforts through entrepreneurship, for instance, can be encouraged.
The Policy enjoys full ownership of national institutions and MOPHRD aligns its actions with provisions of this policy, pending formal adoption.
FIA Academy – A Centre of Excellence
The Silk Routes Facility supports Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in its efforts to establish itself as a Centre of Excellence for law enforcement training in Pakistan. To this end, the Silk Routes Facility provided support to the FIA on developing a five-year Strategic Plan reflecting importance on the (a) quality of training, (b) vision for development of human resources, and (c) development of appropriate infrastructure, for growth of the FIA. The Strategic Plan was developed through a series of consultative workshops with relevant FIA counterparts. The FIA Academy applies the Strategic Plan as its development document and uses it to inform its daily work, as well as to mobilise and streamline the support of the partners.
Online Training Delivery Platform
Given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Silk Routes Facility is supporting the FIA Academy to develop its own Online Training Delivery Platform. The Platform will feed into the Strategic Plan as a necessary capacity building tool which shall not only be utilised during the pandemic, but also as a part of regular training courses at the Academy. It will ensure consistency of trainings around the year and serve to complement the existing curriculum by offering parallel courses for those officers unable to travel internally, but who are required to take mandatory courses are part of their jobs.
Training Needs Assessment
The Strategic Planning process was initiated as a follow-up to the 2018 Training Needs Assessment (TNA) which outlined conclusions and recommendations relating to improvements needed to the trainings delivered by or within the Academy as well as on its working practices. One of the main recommendations of the TNA was for the Academy to develop its strategic plan as a basis for its development.
Training Delivery
In addition to strengthening of the FIA Academy, the Silk Routes Facility provides support in training of FIA’s law enforcement officers through focused training programmes on thematic areas of irregular migration, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings. Honouring its commitment to effectively implement training activities envisaged under the Strategic Plan, the Silk Routes Facility developed a contingency plan during the COVID-19 pandemic which allowed for activities to continue despite the imposition of travel and other restrictions. As part of the plan, an online training platform was developed to train 60 female FIA sub-inspectors on the aforementioned thematic areas. The training lasted for four weeks and was considered part of their Promotional course.
Developed training material for the FIA Academy on the SILK ROUTES ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM:
Pakistan SoM Laws
Pakistan TiP Laws
Irregular Migration
Smuggling of Migrants
Trafficking in Person
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