A Surge in Pakistani Asylum Seekers Applications
In the past year, the fashion of Pakistanis seeking refuge in European countries has skyrocketed. In total, an astonishing 28,000 Pakistani nationals availed of international safety in the EU+ area between October 2023 and October 2024. The high tide of this wave occurred in October 2023 with 3,400 applications compared to an average of 1,900 for the month of October in 2024. It reveals the increasingly desperate condition among Pakistanis to provide better protection and security to them for a secured future outside the country.
Italy: The Favorite Destination Among the EU nations, Italy has emerged as the number one destination for Pakistani asylum seekers. France, Greece, and Germany are merely watching, hosting large numbers of applicants. The reasons that attract people to Italy include its uniquely friendly policies of insurance and appreciation of opportunities at higher levels. Still, the journey to the destination is not without risks.
The Unpalatable Truth of Approval Rates
Even with this influx of applications, the probability of asylum is still small. Of the 20,000 decisions made in EU+ countries during that period, only 12% had refugee fame or subsidiary protection. As of end October 2024 nearly 34,000 have not yet been decided and were left in limbo with many living in an uncertain country and despair.
A Deadly Gamble: The Risks of Irregular Migration
Beyond legal asylum routes, many Pakistanis turn to illegal human trafficking rings to reach Europe, often with disastrous results. Last week’s tragic boat sinking off the coast of Greece highlights the deadly risks. Among the dead, at least forty Pakistanis lost their lives, while 35 remain missing. This tragedy mirrors last year’s shipwreck off Italy’s Calabria coast, where fifty nine migrants, including 28 Pakistanis, lost their lives in stormy waters.
Why Pakistanis Are Fleeing
The massive exodus from Pakistan is driven by a combination of monetary instability, unemployment opportunities, and political upheaval. For most, the prospect of a stable life in Europe far outweighs the risks of the perilous journey. But grim facts of risky crossings and low asylum acceptance rates often break these dreams.
The Human Cost of Seeking Hope
These tragedies are greater than simply statistics; they are memories of lives misplaced and families torn apart. They spotlight the pressing want for each countrywide and global measures to tackle the root motives of this migration. Stricter policies by myself can’t stem the tide; options have to focal point on developing monetary possibilities and steadiness inside Pakistan, whilst ensuring secure and felony migration pathways.
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