Pakistan Hosts Thematic Meeting of Budapest Process as a Step Towards Strengthening Migration Governance
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development hosted the Thematic Meeting of the Budapest Process, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s engagement with this international platform. While addressing the event as the chief guest, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhary Salik Hussain stated, “It is a pleasure to host this thematic Meeting of the Budapest Process and to mark the meaningful occasion of bringing the Dialogue to Pakistan for the first time in over a decade.”
Minister Ch. Salik Hussain emphasized the importance of expanding safe, orderly, and regular avenues for migration, highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the dignity, development, and well-being of its people. “Today’s thematic focus on legal pathways for migration, a topic of high relevance and priority for our government, is both timely and relevant,” he stated. “As global mobility increases and the demand for labour across various sectors rises, it becomes ever more important to expand safe, orderly, and regular avenues for migration.”
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the partnership with the Budapest Process, which brings together countries of origin, transit, and destination in a spirit of shared responsibility. “Pakistan has remained a steadfast partner of the Budapest Process for over two decades, and we value this unique platform,” Minister Ch. Salik Hussain said. “I would like to commend the Budapest Process Secretariat and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) for their continued commitment to building consensus on migration governance through constructive dialogue and cooperation.”
Minister Ch. Salik Hussain highlighted the significance of labor mobility for Pakistan’s economy and the well-being of its people. “Over 11 million Pakistanis abroad contribute not only to their host economies but also to our national growth through remittances and knowledge exchange,” he stated. “Our overseas Pakistanis continue to be a vital pillar of national resilience, and we are committed to ensuring that their migration journeys are safe, well-governed, and mutually beneficial.”
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with destination countries and partners. “To this end, Pakistan has developed a robust legal migration framework that facilitates the deployment of our workforce abroad through structured, transparent, and rights-based processes,” Minister Ch. Salik Hussain said. “When managed well, migration benefits all parties, promoting development, economic growth, and shared opportunity.”
Minister Ch. Salik Hussain also highlighted the importance of the Ministerial Declaration and Call for Action. “The recently adopted Ministerial Declaration and Call for Action, endorsed at the 7th Ministerial Conference in Budapest in November 2024, provides a renewed strategic framework for regional cooperation,” he stated. “Its strong focus on strengthening legal migration and mobility pathways aligns closely with Pakistan’s priorities.”
Budapest Process Thematic Meeting on Legal Pathways for Migration was convened by the Thematic Working Group Co-Chair Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistan. This landmark event, the first in Pakistan after a decade, brought together more than 65 officials and experts representing 28 states and international organisations under the framework of the Budapest Process Dialogue. The meeting advanced action-oriented recommendations to strengthen promotion of legal pathways for safe, orderly, and rights-based labour migration, from the Silk Routes Countries towards countries of destination.
Hosting this event marks a significant milestone for Pakistan, highlighting its increasingly strategic role in the region and in global migration governance. Mr. Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Federal Minister for the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), inaugurated the meeting and emphasised “As global mobility increases and the demand for labour across various sectors rises, it becomes ever more important to expand safe, orderly, and regular avenues for migration.” He further added, “Pakistan has long recognized the value of labour mobility not only for our economy, but also for the dignity, development, and well-being of our people.”
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
