The economy was hit by the pandemic and his restaurant was forced to close. With no work and inflation skyrocketing, the 47-year-old paid a smuggler $7,600 to take him to Europe, where he hoped to rebuild his life, according to his brother, Muhammad Sarwar Bhatti.
Pakistanis are facing an economic crisis as unemployment and inflation rates are at record highs. Photo: BT
Heartbreaking tragedy
"She told me she would start over for the future of her children," Mr. Muhammad recalled.
A boat leaving Libya carrying Hameed Iqbal Bhatti and hundreds of others sank off the coast of Greece last week, in one of the deadliest migrant disasters in recent years. Hameed is believed to have died. The tragedy highlights the risks faced by those trying to enter Europe illegally.
According to more than a dozen migrants, along with expert testimony and statistical data, the number of Pakistanis making these journeys has been increasing in recent months due to the country's economic crisis.
Pakistan's $350 billion economy is cash-strapped and in crisis, with inflation at a record 38%. A rapidly devaluing currency and budget deficit have forced the government to take drastic measures over the past year to avoid default.
Pakistan's industrial sector, the backbone of the economy, has shrunk by nearly 3% in the current fiscal year. Official unemployment data has not been released for two years.
Mr. Hafeez Pasha, former Finance Minister, estimated the unemployment rate at a record 11-12%.
The problem of human trafficking to Europe
Frontex, the EU's border and coast guard agency, detected 102,000 irregular migrants at the European Union's external borders between January and May, 12% higher than the previous year and the highest since 2016.
Train crossings from Libya to Italy and Greece have nearly doubled, and are the most common method of crossing. Italy now has the third highest number of Pakistani migrants, after Egypt and Bangladesh, according to a Frontex spokesperson.
Of the illegal border crossings detected this year, 4,971 were from Pakistan, a new record. Pakistan declared a day of national mourning on Monday after the boat disaster. At least 209 Pakistanis are believed to have been on the boat that capsized off the coast of Greece.
Even before last week's sinking, several Pakistanis had died in the Mediterranean this year.
Opportunity to change life or change fate?
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) says most of the people who cross the border are unskilled workers or people who are unlikely to get work visas in the EU. But if they live frugally in Europe, they can still send money home to support their families.
Many Pakistanis have died at sea while migrating to Europe. Photo: Reuters
Muhamad Nazim, 54, said he entered Europe illegally through Türkiye in the 1990s and was eventually granted a residency card. He understands why people want to leave Pakistan.
“Even educated people find it difficult to get jobs in Pakistan,” said another Pakistani named Anish Raza.
Haji Ilyas, 70, is building a palatial home. Mr Ilyas, who owns four cars, said his three sons have left the country illegally. Two of them have gone to Spain.
With foreign exchange reserves that cover less than a month of imports, Pakistan is at risk of running out of money. An International Monetary Fund program expires this month and the government will need to enter into a new program or face default.
Pakistan is a leading exporter of labor and large remittances have helped keep the country afloat. Nearly 830,000 people registered to work abroad last year, the highest since 2016.
Israr Mirza, 29, recounted his journey to the West after he was laid off last year from a textile factory in Lahore.
He took out a loan, bought a plane ticket to Türkiye and paid a smuggler who arranged for him to travel overland to Greece in September. He arrived but was caught and sent back to Türkiye, then detained and eventually deported to Pakistan.
“I don’t know if I’ll be happy to come back alive,” he said. “Now I have no income and now I have debts to pay.”
Quoc Thien (according to Reuters)
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