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Larkana

Quest for a Better Life

What drives so many Pakistanis to undertake such extreme, life-threatening journeys in pursuit of a better future?

By Sajad Jatoi | March 2025


In January 2025, the Atlantic Ocean claimed the lives of many in a tragic display of human desperation. Over 80 young individuals, including 60 Pakistanis, set sail from Mauritania with dreams of a better life in Europe, only to have their hopes dashed when smugglers abandoned them in the open sea. Locked inside the ill-equipped boat, they were left to face the horrors of the ocean, with over 50 lives lost, including 44 Pakistanis, before Moroccan authorities rescued the survivors. Sadly, this tragic incident is not an isolated one. Just weeks later, another boat capsized near the coastal area of Libya, claiming the lives of dozens more.

What is perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that a significant number of these ill-fated migrants were from Pakistan. In June 2023, for example, the Ionian Sea near Greece witnessed the drowning of over 300 Pakistanis. Such incidents raise an important question: What drives so many Pakistanis to undertake such extreme, life-threatening journeys in pursuit of a better future?

The Struggle for Economic Stability
One of the primary reasons Pakistanis risk everything in the hope of a better future abroad is the lack of viable economic opportunities at home. With a population exceeding 230 million, Pakistan faces major challenges in providing jobs, stability, and economic mobility. Unemployment rates, especially among youth, have risen steadily in recent years. Although things appeared to improve slightly during the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s era, the situation worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly affecting the economy.

In 2024, according to the International Organisation for Migration, nearly 40% of Pakistan’s population expressed a desire to leave the country, with many young people targeting Europe and North America. These regions offer economic opportunities largely unavailable at home. The unemployment rate for young Pakistanis remains alarmingly high at around 9%, and many graduates struggle to find work in their field of study. Forced into low-wage or informal employment, approximately 4.5 million people (Economic Survey of Pakistan 2023-24) are unemployed, with youth aged 15-24 bearing the brunt of this crisis, facing an unemployment rate of 11.1%. In this environment of uncertainty, the allure of a better life in Western countries becomes an increasingly irresistible option.

The Allure of Stability and Safety
Pakistan has long been plagued by political instability and security concerns. Decades of political turbulence, civil unrest, and the rising threat of extremism have led many Pakistanis to view migration as a means of escaping these risks. In particular, individuals from rural and conflict-prone areas see migration as an opportunity to leave behind the violence and uncertainty they face on a daily basis.
Though many of those seeking to migrate are not necessarily impoverished—some have the means to start businesses at home—many choose to risk it all, paying smugglers large sums of money for the promise of a better future in Europe. For instance, the BBC reported that most victims of the Greek boat tragedy in 2023 had paid smugglers in Gujrat over Rs 35 lakh for their passage to Europe.

The Role of Human Smuggling Networks
A disturbing factor in this crisis is the role of human trafficking and smuggling networks. These smugglers exploit the desperation of individuals seeking a better life, offering false promises of safe and swift passage to Europe. Many migrants, eager to escape their circumstances, are lured by these promises, only to find themselves abandoned in perilous conditions. As per Dawn newspaper, human traffickers prey on the desperation of young individuals, promising safe passage but delivering only exploitation, extortion, and grisly death. This has been evident in all the migrant boat tragedies.


A Desperate Search for Hope
For many Pakistanis, the decision to migrate is born from a deep sense of hopelessness. High levels of poverty (as per the World Bank, over 40% of Pakistanis live below the poverty line), unemployment, and political instability push individuals to take extreme measures in search of a better future. This desperation is compounded by the widespread belief that Western countries, particularly those in Europe, represent lands of opportunity where dreams can come true.

One of the victims of the tragic Morocco boat disaster reportedly told his fellow migrants that if he died, they must tell his family that he died in the hope of securing a better future for his children. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 6,000 Pakistanis embarked on illegal migration journeys to Europe in 2023 alone. Many of these individuals come from poor, rural backgrounds where upward mobility is limited, and they see migration as their only path to escape hardship.

Most victims of the Greek boat tragedy in 2023 had paid smugglers in Gujrat over Rs 35 lakh for their passage to Europe.

The Human Cost
The human cost of illegal migration is staggering. Families are left mourning the loss of loved ones, and entire communities are shaken by the tragic events. The drowning of over 40 Pakistanis in the Atlantic serves as a haunting reminder of the high stakes involved in these perilous journeys. Yet, despite the dangers, the flow of migrants continues, driven by the belief that the promise of a better life in the West is worth the risk.

The global community has been slow to address the root causes of irregular migration, and Pakistan’s government has struggled to implement effective, long-term solutions for its people. While efforts to combat human trafficking and improve economic conditions are underway, they remain insufficient in the face of widespread poverty and political instability. Until these deeper issues are addressed, Pakistanis will continue to risk their lives in pursuit of a dream of a better future abroad.

The Government’s Efforts and Response
In response to such heinous incidents, the Pakistani government has made some efforts to tackle human trafficking and apprehend smugglers. Various agencies have launched operations to arrest trafficking rings and dismantle smuggling networks. However, these efforts often result in short-term successes, with smugglers quickly disappearing, making it seem as though the issue has been addressed. Unfortunately, the reality of this ongoing crisis only resurfaces when another tragic event occurs, highlighting the persistent nature of the problem.

It appears this reality has dawned on the federal government, as it has reportedly dismissed 13 officials of the FIA over their failure to stop human smuggling and arrest the perpetrators. As per some reports, even the DG FIA, Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir, had been removed from his post. While these efforts show that the government is willing to put an end to illegal migration, will it be able to fix the issue? Will it be able to create an environment where people don’t take such perils? Only time will tell.

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