In a recent address to the Asia-Gulf Cooperation Council, at Manila, philipines Mr. Zulfiqar Ahmad, Secretary of Workers Welfare Fund, highlighted Pakistan's dedication to safeguarding the rights of migrant workers and promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration. The speech emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers, including forced labor, exploitation, and discrimination, arising from man-made crises, natural disasters, and pandemics. With Pakistan being one of the leading countries of origin for migrants in Asia, Mr. Ahmad emphasized the country's active participation in various international platforms and initiatives such as the Colombo Process, Abu Dhabi Dialogue, Budapest Process, and Bali Process. Pakistan is committed to working with organizations like the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to enhance global governance on international migration. To address the challenges related to labor migration, Pakistan's Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development has developed a comprehensive Draft National Emigration & Welfare Policy for Overseas Pakistanis. This policy aims to ensure fair and ethical recruitment processes, protect the rights of emigrant workers through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with destination countries, and engage community welfare attaches in Pakistani Missions abroad. Pakistan's efforts to enhance cooperation and partnerships in protecting migrants have resulted in the signing of several MOUs with countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and South Korea. Furthermore, the country has increased the number of protector offices and digitized the emigrants' registration process to ensure transparency in recruitment. Pakistan's commitment to promoting safe and fair migration, protecting migrant workers' rights, and engaging in international cooperation demonstrates its dedication to the principles and objectives of the Global Compact for Migration.
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