ISLAMABAD:According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), 28,000 Pakistanis applied for asylum in EU+ countries between October 2023 and October 2024.
A report by Dawn News stated that in October 2023, nearly 3,400 asylum applications were received from Pakistanis, but this figure dropped to 1,900 in October 2024.
The country receiving the highest number of asylum applications from Pakistanis was Italy, followed by France, Greece, and Germany.
The “Country Focus on Pakistan” report revealed that EU+ countries made decisions on 20,000 Pakistani asylum applications, with only 12% of applicants being granted refugee status or subsidiary protection.
The report also indicated that by the end of October 2024, around 34,000 asylum-related decisions were still pending.
In addition to political and security aspects, the report highlighted the role of various stakeholders in Pakistan, including the judiciary, and discussed the treatment of certain groups within the country.
The report further provided an overview of the situation of Afghan refugees and various groups in Pakistan, noting that approximately 2.4 million people are facing forced labor or forced marriage, while Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of slavery.
Pakistan, being a major transit point for human trafficking, has weak enforcement of anti-trafficking laws due to its fragile democracy and lack of accountability, despite efforts to combat human trafficking.
As of 2023, Pakistan had not fully met international standards for ending human trafficking, and state authorities’ involvement in corruption and trafficking crimes has hindered law enforcement actions.
It is also noted that a few months ago, the federal Ministry of Interior decided not to issue passports to Pakistanis seeking asylum abroad, citing national security concerns.
