The Senate of Pakistan is stepping up its efforts to create people-focused policies on migration governance, with a new collaborative initiative underway with the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In a high-level meeting at the Senate Secretariat, Ms. Rida Qazi, Advisor to the Chairman Senate on Special Initiatives, engaged with IOM and UN officials to discuss ways to align parliamentary action with the needs of the public and international partners.
Ms. Qazi welcomed the delegation, which included senior representatives from IOM and the United Nations, and highlighted the recent establishment of the Senate’s Special Initiatives Wing as a key milestone toward a more inclusive, people-centric Parliament. She emphasized that this approach not only strengthens the Senate’s constitutional mandate but also ensures that global partnerships support Pakistan’s national and regional priorities, particularly in the realm of migration.
During the meeting, Ms. Qazi outlined the importance of Parliament’s role in migration governance, noting that its responsibilities extend beyond oversight and lawmaking. She pointed out that parliamentarians, through bodies such as Standing Committees and by engaging in structured diplomacy, are positioned to integrate migration into development policies, support the Sustainable Development Goals, and keep governance mechanisms responsive to the population’s needs.
To further institutionalize this work, Ms. Qazi proposed the creation of a parliamentary task force dedicated to migration governance, and stressed the importance of transitioning from an ad hoc to a structured policy framework. She also underscored the critical economic contributions of the Pakistani diaspora through remittances and reiterated the Senate’s commitment to facilitating legal migration and international opportunities for Pakistanis.
UN officials welcomed these initiatives, agreeing on the need to treat migration as a strategic diplomatic concern, rather than viewing it solely as a labor or development matter. They drew attention to increasingly urgent issues such as climate-induced migration, suggesting that challenges linked to floods, health crises, and climate change should become part of the broader policy agenda. The UN representatives also affirmed that they possess established expertise and resources in this area, offering strong foundations for further collaboration.
Addressing the challenge of limited financial resources, the UN delegation encouraged exploring innovative funding mechanisms, such as climate financing and partnerships with new donors. They highlighted the potential for parliamentary diplomacy to facilitate dialogue and open pathways for resource mobilization.
Both sides affirmed their commitment to developing a joint framework for migration governance, recognizing its importance to Pakistan’s international engagement. The meeting concluded with an agreement to continue advancing the initiative through ongoing dialogue, innovative partnerships, and coordinated efforts.
