{
  "id": 14208108,
  "title": "PM Shehbaz, EU official discuss Pakistan's efforts to curb migrant smuggling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pm-shehbaz-eu-official-discuss-pakistans-efforts-to-curb-migrant-14208108",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T13:09:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2036867/pm-shehbaz-eu-official-discuss-pakistans-efforts-to-curb-migrant-smuggling"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "European Union migration and internal affairs commissioner Magnus Brunner met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, discussing ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations in addressing migration and mobility issues. The meeting took place in Islamabad, marking the EU official's first visit to Pakistan. Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the significance of Pakistan's partnership with the EU, showcasing the country's ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration and combat migrant smuggling through legislative reforms, institutional strengthening, effective enforcement, and international collaboration.\n\nPrime Minister Sharif further stressed the importance of balancing efforts to tackle irregular migration with the creation of practical opportunities for safe, orderly, and regular migration. He highlighted that expanding legal pathways for skilled Pakistani workers and professionals would aid European countries' labor market needs while simultaneously reducing prospective migrants' susceptibility to smuggling networks. Commissioner Brunner expressed appreciation for Pakistan's efforts and cooperation, envisioning these actions as contributing factors to expanding legal migration pathways and promoting mutually advantageous labor mobility between Pakistan and the European Union.\n\nDuring a separate meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Brunner further lauded Pakistan's measures against illegal migration, noting a 64% reduction in illegal migration to Europe as a commendable achievement. He expressed confidence that such efforts would result in the elimination of illegal migration. Naqvi emphasized Pakistan's zero-tolerance policy towards illegal migration, stating that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had shown professional competence despite resource limitations. The two ministers also discussed strengthening cooperation in immigration, institutional coordination, and border management, with both parties agreeing to collaborate on the EU's Eastern Corridor Initiative to eliminate illegal migration.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday to discuss strengthening Pakistan-EU cooperation in migration and mobility, one of the eight pillars of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. Welcoming Commissioner Brunner on his first visit to Pakistan, the prime minister underscored the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "PM Shehbaz, EU official discuss Pakistan's efforts to curb migrant smuggling",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/pm-shehbaz-eu-official-discuss-pakistans-efforts-to-curb-migrant",
        "published": "2026-10-13T13:09:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}