RETHINKING MIGRATION POLICY: ALIGNING WESTERN BALKAN AND EUROPEAN UNION STRATEGIES WITH PAKISTANI MIGRATION DYNAMICS

Pakistan, with a population of 247 million and a land area of 881,640 km², faces persistent structural socio-economic challenges, including high unemployment, unequal land distribution, and the absence of a national digital employment registry. These factors contribute to growing irregular migration to Europe, particularly via the Western Balkan route. This study examines the structural drivers of Pakistani migration to Europe and evaluates the effectiveness of European Union (EU) and Western Balkan migration policies through a policy-oriented qualitative analysis of secondary sources from 2020 to 2025. Findings indicate that 42,956 Pakistani irregular migrants were detected on the Western Balkan route during this period, while asylum recognition rates remained low (12–14%). Existing readmission agreements have proven insufficient, focusing on returns without addressing underlying structural drivers. Underutilized land resources and weak labor market governance in Pakistan reinforce migration pressures, while EU migration policies remain predominantly security-oriented and poorly aligned with labor demand. The study advocates for a coordinated framework combining digital labor registries, land reform, structured legal migration pathways, and active participation of Western Balkan states. Aligning domestic reforms in Pakistan with European labor needs could foster sustainable, ethical, and mutually beneficial migration governance.