safe migration begins

Why Safe Migration Begins with Information 

ByJustpaste.in

By Tahseen Ullah 

Imagine a young Pakistani sitting in a village in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Sindh, scrolling through his phone. He sees an attractive job offer for Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the UAE—or even an IT position in Southeast Asia. The salary is impressive, accommodation is promised and the visa will supposedly be arranged within weeks. A WhatsApp number is provided, and someone in his community has already shared the opportunity.

He has ambition, perhaps a degree or technical skills. What he may not have is reliable information.

This information gap can turn an aspiration for overseas employment into financial loss, irregular migration, exploitation, human smuggling or even trafficking.

For Pakistan, this is an increasingly important challenge. Overseas employment is a lifeline for millions of Pakistani families, supporting children’s education, access to healthcare, improved living standards and household economic security, while remittances make a vital contribution to the national economy. At the same time, rapidly changing global labour markets are creating new opportunities beyond traditional destinations. Yet, as these opportunities grow, so do the risks of fraudulent recruitment, misinformation, disinformation, human smuggling and trafficking. Ensuring that Pakistanis can access authentic and accurate information, guidance, verify employment opportunities and make informed decisions is therefore essential to turning migration aspirations into safe and dignified and productive employment opportunities.

A fake job advertisement, misleading social media post or fraudulent agent can create a false impression of employment and migration opportunities. Misinformation may be shared unknowingly, while disinformation is deliberately designed to deceive. For prospective migrants, however, the consequences can be equally serious.

The risks are particularly concerning for young, educated, and IT skilled Pakistanis. In parts of Southeast Asia, deceptive job advertisements and promises of visit visas that are later claimed to be convertible into work visas have reportedly been used to lure individuals into situations involving human trafficking for forced criminality, where victims may be coerced into participating in online scams and other criminal activities. What initially appears to be a lucrative employment opportunity can therefore become a pathway to exploitation, coercion and serious harm.

In the migration journey, information is not just knowledge, it is protection.

Before accepting any overseas opportunity, prospective migrants should ask: Is the employer genuine? Is the recruiter authorised? Is the visa appropriate for the job? Is there a written employment contract? Are the salary and working conditions clear? What are the actual costs? Most importantly, where can this information be verified?

The principle should be simple: check before you trust, verify before you pay and consult before you travel.

To make an informed decision, prospective and intending migrants should first verify job offers and recruitment arrangements from the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment and its field offices, the Protectorates of Emigrants, while seeking information, guidance and referral from Government departments, Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) Pakistan and other recognised migration information and counselling services before paying, signing or travelling. These sources can help migrants understand legal/ regular migration pathways, recruitment procedures, employment contracts, workers’ rights and available complaint mechanisms.

Before making a migration decision, understand the process and seek guidance. Consult relevant sources before paying an agent, signing documents or travelling—a few minutes of verification can prevent years of financial and personal consequences.

However, information alone is not enough. Safe migration also requires quality skills, reskilling and upskilling. International labour markets increasingly demand technical competencies, language skills, digital literacy and recognised qualifications. TVET institutions and universities should therefore align training with genuine labour-market demand and equip young people with both occupational and migration-related knowledge.

A skilled worker who cannot identify a fraudulent opportunity remains vulnerable. Conversely, reliable information without relevant skills can leave genuine opportunities beyond reach. Skills and information must therefore go together.

A comprehensive approach to migration must move beyond simply facilitating departure. Safe migration requires informed preparation before departure, protection during employment and support upon return, supported by strong coordination among government institutions, international organization, civil society organizations, Pakistani missions abroad, bilateral agreements with destination countries, training providers, employers, recruiters, universities, and migration information and counselling services.

The message to young Pakistanis should be clear:

Do not migrate on the basis of a social media post, WhatsApp message or an agent’s promise. Seek information, consult the relevant authorities, verify the opportunity, acquire the required skills and follow the legal and regular migration pathway.

Migration should be a pathway to opportunity—not a pathway to exploitation.

In today’s information environment, knowing where to seek information, whom to consult and what to verify before migration may be as important as the skills required for the job itself.

Safe migration begins long before the airport. It begins with an informed decision.

Tahseen Ullah is a development and migration sector practitioner specialising in migration management, education and child protection. He can be reached at tahseenanthro@gmail.com.  

LinkedIn: Tahseen Ullah

 The views expressed are his own and do not reflect the views of his employer or any affiliated organisation.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Post-graduate depression

    ByJustpaste.in

    No one talks about the depression, hopelessness, and anxiety that fresh university graduates face. They suffer silently, wondering what to do next and how to find opportunities. Even their families often don’t understand what they are going through. Many graduates slowly fade away. They stop talking to friends, lose contact with classmates, and avoid social gatherings. At family functions, relatives ask questions like, “Beta, what are you doing now?”, “How long are you going to stay at your parents’ home?” If it’s a girl, people ask, “When are you getting married?” or “What have you achieved after getting your degree? Have you earned any money? Look at our daughters—they’re married, have two kids, and are happy. Meanwhile, your poor parents are still taking care of you.” When it comes to boys, they face endless questions from uncles and relatives. Many become demotivated. Some dream of moving abroad but don’t have the money to do so. Others try trading after taking advice from friends and sometimes fail. Some start giving home tuition while constantly thinking about how to settle in life and repay their parents, who are getting older every day. This is the reality of our society. Those who can afford it pursue a master’s degree or go abroad for higher studies. Many work overtime just to prove that they are capable of achieving something in life. Otherwise, people label them as a burden on their parents. Many daughters are pressured into marriage instead of being allowed to pursue private jobs. If they want to build a career, they are expected to prepare for competitive government exams. Even after 14 or 16 years of education, they still have to study further to clear exams like CSS or PPSC. Only then do parents and society begin to appreciate them, and their names are respected. Otherwise, to society, you are just another university graduate—and that’s all.

  • NASA shares breathtaking full moon photo

    ByJustpaste.in

    People on Earth see a full Moon almost every month but have you ever wondered what it looks like from space? A NASA astronaut living aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shared a breathtaking photo showing the full Moon from orbit. The image was released on July 29, when July’s full Moon appeared in the night sky. It was shared on social media by NASA astronaut Anil Menon. While people on Earth watched the full Moon rise above the horizon and shine brightly in the sky astronauts on the ISS enjoyed a completely different view. From space the Moon appears to glow brilliantly against the deep black background of the universe. NASA also shared a message encouraging people to take a moment to look up at the night sky. The space agency said that the full Moon remains one of nature’s most beautiful and timeless sights continuing to inspire people around the world with its beauty.

  • Dad’s fake Ultrasound trick goes viral

    ByJustpaste.in

    A father’s unusual way of helping his young daughter stop eating junk food has gone viral on social media. The video shows a Chinese father who was worried because his daughter loved junk food and would not stop eating it even after he asked her many times. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbalh_1AbcP/?igsh=NTV3MGpkcWpkang0 To teach her a lesson the father created a fake ultrasound video. In the video it looked like a worm was growing inside the girl’s stomach because of the junk food she was eating. The animation showed the worm happily eating ice cream and other unhealthy foods becoming bigger each time she ate them. According to the viral story the trick worked and the little girl completely gave up junk food. The video quickly spread across social media and received mixed reactions. Some people praised the father’s creative idea while others said it is better to explain the benefits of healthy eating instead of frightening children.

  • Can you spot the hidden mistake?

    ByJustpaste.in

    Online picture puzzles often challenge people to look closely and find something unusual.  One such puzzle has caught the attention of many people. In the picture a woman can be seen standing in a kitchen and washing dishes. At first everything looks completely normal. But there is actually a strange mistake hidden in the scene. The puzzle is a simple test of your observation skills. Can you spot what is wrong? Take a close look at the picture. If you cannot find the mistake here is the answer. Look at the tea kettle. Its spout is placed unusually low on the kettle.  A kettle designed like this would not work properly because the tea could not flow out normally. Did you spot the mistake before reading the answer?

  • AI Godfather Geoffrey Hinton warns AI may escape human control

    ByJustpaste.in

    Computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton is widely regarded as the “Godfather of AI.” He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024 for his work on artificial intelligence technology. Geoffrey Hinton who is associated with the University of Toronto in Canada has warned that the smarter AI technology becomes, the more difficult it will be for humanity to control it. He has also expressed concerns about AI agents recently hacking real-world companies. Speaking to the media after an AI technology conference, Geoffrey Hinton said that such incidents are occurring as these systems become increasingly intelligent. He said, “As these systems become smarter, I think we will see more complicated incidents and their ability to escape our control will become much better.” Hinton said the problem is that humans may not be able to rely on or trust highly intelligent AI models. He explained, “I do not believe that we can simply control them or assume that they will not escape our control.” It is worth noting that in recent days, OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta have acknowledged that their AI models independently escaped controlled environments and hacked the systems of other companies. Hinton described these incidents as somewhat frightening and said that this is only the beginning of AI hacking. He said, “I think we may see numerous cyberattacks but the future is uncertain. People say defenders have more resources than attackers but the problem is that an attacker only needs to succeed once, whereas defenders need to succeed every time.” Hinton’s earlier warnings about AI Geoffrey Hinton has previously issued warnings about the dangers of AI technology. On one occasion, he said there was a 10 to 20 percent chance that the technology could gradually lead to the extinction of humanity. He stressed that it is important to discuss the potential risks posed by AI. He acknowledged that uncertainty surrounding AI can be unsettling because nobody knows exactly what the future holds. He said that if someone asks what AI technology will look like over the next 10 years, no one can accurately predict it. Earlier, in August 2025 while speaking on a podcast, Hinton said that AI is not only learning things in ways that humans do not fully understand but there is also no reliable way to simply switch it off. Hinton’s contribution to AI Geoffrey Hinton’s research laid the foundation for machine learning, the technology that has helped computers imitate aspects of human intelligence. However, for the past several years, he has been campaigning for AI to be made safer. In 2023, Hinton left his job at Google, warning that malicious actors could use the technology to harm other people. In an interview some time ago, when he was asked about the pace of AI development, Hinton said that most experts in the field currently believe that at some point possibly within the next 20 years—humans could develop AI systems that are more intelligent than humans. He said, “That is a frightening thought. Right now, you can think of this technology as being like a three-year-old child and children grow up very quickly.” AI could transform world According to Hinton, the impact of AI on the world could be similar to that of the Industrial Revolution. He said the Industrial Revolution effectively halted the growth of human physical strength because humans began relying on increasingly powerful machines. He explained that humanity is now doing something similar that could replace human intelligence meaning ordinary human intelligence may no longer advance at the same pace while machines continue to develop. When asked what life might look like 10 or 20 years from now, Hinton said it would depend on how political systems respond to and manage the technology. In his view, AI could have extraordinary effects on the medical field and could increase efficiency across almost every industry. However, he emphasized that humanity needs to be much more cautious about the rapid development of this technology.

  • How much peanut butter is good for your bones?

    ByJustpaste.in

    Peanut butter is more than just a tasty spread. Its creamy texture, protein and healthy nutrients make it a popular choice for snacks and smoothies. Surprisingly it may also support bone health. Strong bones are important for movement, strength and overall quality of life. As we get older poor eating habits and a less active lifestyle can increase the risk of bone weakness and conditions such as osteoporosis. Along with regular exercise getting the right nutrients from food can help keep bones healthy. Peanut butter can be one small part of a balanced diet. Nutrients in peanut butter that support bones Peanut butter contains several nutrients that may benefit bone health. Magnesium helps support bone development and strength. It also provides phosphorus, which is important for healthy bones and teeth. Peanut butter also contains zinc a mineral that plays a role in tissue repair and vitamin B6, which supports normal metabolism and other body functions. Another benefit is its protein content. Protein is important for building and maintaining bones and other body tissues. However peanut butter is not a major source of calcium so it should not replace calcium rich foods such as milk, yogurt or other suitable alternatives. How much peanut butter should you eat? Peanut butter can be healthy but portion size matters. It is easy to eat more than planned because of its rich taste and creamy texture. For most people, 1–2 tablespoons a day can be a reasonable amount depending on their overall diet and calorie needs. Can too much peanut butter cause weight gain? Peanut butter contains mostly unsaturated fats including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.  These fats can be a healthier choice than some saturated fats. However peanut butter is also high in calories. Eating large amounts regularly can add extra calories to your diet and may contribute to weight gain. The right amount depends on your personal goal: For maintaining weight Around 1–2 tablespoons may be enough. For gaining weight: A larger portion may help increase calorie intake. For weight loss Smaller portions can help control calories while still providing protein and healthy fats. Tips Peanut butter can be a nutritious addition to a balanced diet and may support bone health through nutrients such as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc vitamin B6 and protein.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *