IOM urges safe, skill-based migration as LSE launches ‘Migration Report 2025’

• Migration must be a matter of choice rather than necessity, stresses IOM Mission Chief Mio Sato

• Pakistan Migration Report 2025 launched at Lahore School of Economics

• Report focuses on skills training to meet global labour market demand stressed

• Links women’s low migration to social barriers, not lack of opportunity, noting remittances as key tool for household welfare and financial inclusion

• Experts call for evidence-based policies to ensure safe migration pathways

 LAHORE: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission in Pakistan Mio Sato has underscored that migration remains one of the most critical global development realities, particularly for countries like Pakistan, stressing that migration must be a matter of choice rather than necessity.

She made these remarks as the chief guest at the launch of the Pakistan Migration Report 2025, the fourth edition of the series published by the Centre on Migration, Remittances and Diaspora (CIMRAD) at the Lahore School of Economics.

The event was held at the Lahore School of Economics’ Burki campus.

Ms. Sato highlighted key priorities for ensuring safe, orderly and dignified migration from Pakistan, including strengthening skill development programmes aligned with international labour market needs, improving awareness about migration opportunities and risks at all stages, and promoting evidence-based policy solutions.

She also pointed to persistent gender disparities in migration, noting that the low participation of women in international labour mobility is not due to a lack of opportunity, but rather structural barriers such as socio-cultural constraints, limited access to recruitment networks, and unsafe working conditions.

She further emphasised the need to maximise development gains from remittances through improved financial inclusion and their more productive use at the household level, given the rising inflows from overseas workers.

Earlier, Lahore School of Economics Rector Shahid Amjad Chaudhry opened the proceedings of the ceremony. In his remarks, he described migration as a critical field of study at all levels, particularly for Pakistan, which remains heavily dependent on external economies for consumption support and workers’ remittances.

Pakistan’s Migration Flows Swing Amid Visa Tightening

The 2025 report on Pakistan’s migration trends has highlighted continued volatility in overseas labour outflows, showing that migrant departures fell from 862,000 in 2023 to 725,672 in 2024, before rebounding slightly to 762,499 in 2025.

The report notes that while migration patterns remain irregular and non-linear over time, the recent decline is largely driven by tighter visa regimes and policy shifts in destination countries. It offers a detailed breakdown of migration flows from Pakistan to the Gulf region and the rest of the world, alongside remittance trends and emerging policy challenges.

According to the report, a significant majority of Pakistani migrant workers continue to head to Gulf countries, which host around 92 per cent of registered migrant labour, with Saudi Arabia maintaining its position as the top destination, accounting for nearly half of all migrants. However, it adds that remittance inflows are relatively higher from non-GCC countries, suggesting either higher wages among migrants in those regions or possible underreporting of migrant numbers.

A key finding shows that around two-thirds of Pakistani labour migrants remain classified as low-skilled or unskilled, with their share increasing by 12 per cent in 2025. The report also points to a gradual diversification of migration destinations beyond the Gulf, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and emerging Asian economies, which are witnessing rising inflows of Pakistani workers.

At the same time, female participation in overseas labour migration remains extremely low, at just one per cent of the total workforce.

Irregular migration continues to pose a serious concern, particularly in Europe, where Pakistan remains among the top ten nationalities attempting illegal entry. The report states that 5,680 Pakistanis were apprehended at European borders in 2024, while 3,203 were detained in the first half of 2025, with around 90 per cent attempting sea crossings.

On the economic front, the report highlights a sharp 25 per cent increase in remittance inflows, rising from USD 30.2 billion in 2023–24 to USD 38.3 billion in 2024–25. It describes remittances as a critical pillar of macroeconomic stability, helping ease balance-of-payments pressures amid rising imports and stagnant exports. Remittances now account for 9.34 per cent of GDP, underscoring their growing role in sustaining household consumption and economic stability.

The surge in inflows is attributed to increased outmigration, a shift toward skilled labour, and persistent high inflation in recent years, which has reduced household incomes and increased dependence on overseas workers’ support.

The report also warns of mounting global migration challenges, including stricter visa regimes, higher fees, increased rejection rates and tighter labour market conditions in major destination countries. It cautions that these constraints on regular migration are contributing to a rise in irregular and often dangerous migration routes.

Speakers at the report launch included CIMRAD Director Dr Rashid Amjad, Dr Fareeha Zafar, and Zahra Mughis.