Legal ID Foundation successfully hosts 3rd Int’l Migrants Day Event 2025

ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):Legal ID Foundation successfully hosted its 3rd International Migrants Day Event 2025 on Thursday here at a local hotel, under the chairmanship of Barrister Zulfiqar Ali Syed.

The event aimed to highlight the complex challenges faced by migrants, with a particular focus on addressing irregular migration, advocating for safe and skilled migration, and initiating a national dialogue toward the formulation of a comprehensive migration policy for Pakistan.

The event aimed to spotlight the pressing challenges of migration, serving as a platform to unite diverse stakeholders under one roof.

The discussions emphasized the need to discourage irregular migration and promote legal, dignified, and skill-based pathways for individuals seeking opportunities abroad.

The event was structured around four key components: an art exhibition, a panel discussion, an international job expo, and public engagement activities. To enhance the overall experience, delicious food stalls and light music were incorporated, creating an inclusive and engaging environment for participants from all walks of life.

A major highlight of the event was the national art exhibition, marking the third art exhibition organized by the Legal ID Foundation. The Foundation strongly believes that art is a powerful medium to express social challenges, lived experiences, and human suffering in a creative and impactful way.

This year’s exhibition was organized under the theme “Every Journey Carries a Dream: Let It Be Safe,” and witnessed enthusiastic participation from artists across Pakistan.

Through compelling artworks and artist statements, participants vividly portrayed the risks associated with irregular migration and underscored the importance of safe, legal, and informed migration pathways.

Recognizing the importance of awareness at an early age, the art competition was designed to include participants from different age groups. The categories were divided to include children under the age of 14, youth under 18, and adults above 18, reinforcing the belief that sensitizing young minds is essential to building a safer migration future.

Another landmark feature of the event was the international job expo, described as the Pakistan’s first International Job Expo. The expo brought together international advisors, law firms, and certified overseas employment professionals who provided free guidance to potential job seekers. This initiative enabled participants to gain accurate information about international job opportunities, legal migration procedures, and compliance requirements, helping them make informed decisions and avoid the risks associated with irregular migration.

The panel discussion featured a distinguished lineup of experts representing key institutions engaged in migration governance and protection, including Sohail Khawaja, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Qamar Zaman, Deputy Director, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA); Shahida Gilani, Programme Officer, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Arbab Saeed, Settlement Expert, Settlement Experts Private Limited.

Their collective expertise enriched the dialogue on safe, orderly, and informed migration, offering valuable insights from policy, enforcement, international cooperation, and private-sector perspectives.

In addition, Ashley Gomes, a U.S. immigration attorney, shared his remarks online and provided guidance to attendees on legal immigration pathways to the United States. The discussion was further strengthened by participation from key public institutions and development partners, including the representation from the academic community with scholars from Quaid-e-Azam University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Root IVY Campus, Bahria University, and other leading universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Development-sector organizations and certified Overseas Employment Promoters and Law Firms also contributed meaningful perspectives on policy gaps and the future of migration governance in Pakistan.

The Legal ID Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the rule of law and addressing challenges related to irregular migration through advocacy, awareness, research, and collaborative initiatives.

The Foundation emphasized that meaningful and sustainable change can only be achieved when migration challenges are discussed nationwide with determination and collective responsibility, starting from the grassroots level.

The successful execution of the event was made possible through the generous support of Master Paints, GFS Global Education, IAS (Immigration Advisory Services), E-Portal Recruitment and Settlement Experts Pvt. Ltd. The Legal ID Foundation expressed sincere gratitude to all sponsors for their unconditional support.