Pakistan has every reason to take pride in its overseas community. Millions of Pakistanis living and working abroad have, for decades, played a vital role in supporting the country’s economy. Their remittances have helped sustain millions of households, strengthened foreign exchange reserves, and provided a much needed cushion during periods of economic difficulty. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Pakistanis seeking opportunities abroad. In fact, in an increasingly interconnected world, legal migration should be encouraged and facilitated.

The problem begins when desperation replaces planning and illegal routes are seen as a shortcut to prosperity.

Over the years, the so called “Dunki” route has emerged as a dangerous obsession for many young Pakistanis. Lured by stories of quick success and misled by human smugglers, thousands embark on perilous journeys in the hope of reaching Europe. Families sell ancestral land, exhaust lifelong savings, and take on crippling debt, believing that the sacrifice will eventually transform their fortunes.

For many, however, the dream turns into a nightmare.

Recent events in Libya once again exposed the grim reality of illegal migration. Hundreds of Pakistanis had to be repatriated after being detained while attempting to enter Europe through irregular channels. Their stories are disturbingly similar. Many were cheated by smugglers, abandoned in foreign lands, held captive by criminal gangs, tortured for ransom, or forced into labour under inhumane conditions. Others never made it back home at all.

The Mediterranean Sea has become a graveyard for countless migrants, including hundreds of Pakistanis. Behind every statistic lies a devastated family, parents waiting for a son who will never return, children growing up without fathers, and households burdened by debt accumulated to finance a journey that was doomed from the outset.

Illegal migration is not merely a personal miscalculation. It is also a national problem.

When Pakistani nationals are repeatedly intercepted in illegal migration attempts, the country’s international image........

© The Patriot