Irregular migrants - an impact on remittances.

Every year billion of dollar or payment sent by overseas to their home countries. Over the last twenty years these remittances are being utilized for developmental activities and to sustain Pakistan economy. Remittance plays integral part in easing the current account deficit, providing balance of payment increase of export, labor force and market situation as well. Therefore remittances are referred as engine of economic growth.

In the month of July the Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted and shared good news for Pakistan economy that the remittances from overseas Pakistani reached $2,768 million in July 2020 that is much higher amount in the history of Pakistan economy. In July, Muslim countries Saudi Arabia showed highest amount of remittances $821.55 million and $538.19 million from UAE. State Bank of Pakistan recorded remittances of $443.13 million from Dubai, $393.91 from Abu Dubai and Sharjah. While other Gulf nations' contributions were $296.95 million in which Bahrain contributed $42.62 million, $69.83 million from Kuwait, $82.49 million from Qatar and $102 million from Oman. Moreover, the remittances recorded from UK was $25.06 million and from US $88.29 million. While the remittances received from European countries included, Germany $35.34 million, France $32.99 million, Netherlands $45 million Spain $9.8 million, Italy $49.46 million, Greece $20.21 million, Sweden $4.85 million, Denmark $6 million, Ireland $12.25 million and Belgium $23.27 and from rest of the world Pakistan received $22.25 million from Malaysia, $10.91 from Norway, $2.83 million from Switzerland, $51.2 million from Australia, $43.13 million from Canada and $9.31 million from Japan.

These remittances are like a drop in ocean following Pakistan's population. Many reasons are responsible which are eating our remittances. One of the major causes is illegal and undocumented migrant or Afghan refugees. Currently, international organization of migration IOM reported under the management of Boarder Monitoring team of the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DORR) since 23-29 August 2020, total 18,615 undocumented Afghan refugee's return from Iran through Nimroz (Milak) and Herat (Islam Qala) borders. In which 9,393 individuals returned voluntarily and 4,222 were deported. Out of 18,615 undocumented Afghan refugees only 7% (1,260) returnees were assisted that is much alarming. Before seven months ago Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed at World Economic Forum that...