As Pakistan touts its economic successes, the Mediterranean has claimed the lives of 40 Pakistanis seeking escape from despair—trapped between broken promises at home and deadly waters abroad.
The PMLN government touts declining inflation, a booming stock exchange, and a stable currency as economic successes. While macroeconomic indicators show signs of recovery, stagnant wages and surging poverty leave millions struggling to survive. For many, this disparity fuels a desperate search for opportunities abroad.
From mid-2022 through mid-2024, Pakistanis suffered back-breaking inflation, peaking at 38% in May 2023. Inflation has declined primarily due to statistical effects from last year’s unusually high rates, but purchasing power remains eroded. Experts stress single-digit inflation must sustain for several years before wages catch up. The World Bank has forecast the poverty rate to circle around 40% through 2026.
The economic situation has encouraged millions to seek greener pastures abroad; according to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24, more than 13.53 million Pakistanis officially migrated for work through April 2024. Not counted are the tens of thousands who annually opt for dangerous sea and land crossings in the hopes of securing a brighter future for themselves. Among them was a 15-year-old boy in the latest tragedy, whose dreams of supporting his struggling family ended in tragedy beneath the Mediterranean waves
The key reason behind the illegal crossings is economic hardship. Limited employment prospects, especially during the ongoing economic downturn, push many to seek livelihoods elsewhere. Pakistan’s passport, among the worst in the world, further limits legal migration.
Many migrants are aware of the treacherous routes in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels they must utilize to reach their destinations. Bolstered by tall tales of migrants who reached their destinations safely, they ignore the exploitation of human smugglers, hoping the ends will justify the means.
This cannot continue. The government must act decisively and immediately. Failure to address these issues risks more tragedies, further eroding public trust and human dignity. It must strengthen legal migration pathways; drive investments toward job creation; and enhance law enforcement by cracking down on human trafficking networks. Finally, it needs to launch mass awareness campaigns aimed at educating potential migrants about the dangers of illegal migration.
Last week’s shipwrecks near Greece serve as a tragic reminder of the human cost of illegal migration. It also highlights the government’s failure to take timely action. In June 2023, over 200 Pakistanis lost their lives in one of the worst sea disasters in the Mediterranean. Then, as now, authorities vowed to stop illegal migrations, launching crackdowns against suspected human smugglers. Each life lost in these tragedies is a failure of governance and humanity. It is time for Pakistan to break this cycle and restore hope to its people.