With work avenues drying up and sky-high inflation, desperate Pakistanis are paying huge amounts to human traffickers to smuggle them into Europe. Hundreds of Pakistanis were on the boat that sank off Greece last week
The economy had suffered in the pandemic and his restaurant business closed. With work avenues drying up and sky-high inflation blowing a hole in his budget, the 47-year-old cobbled together $7,600 for a trafficker to smuggle him into Europe, where he hoped to rebuild the life he once had, his brother Muhammad Sarwar Bhatti, 53, told Reuters.
Official unemployment data have not been published in two years. Hafeez Pasha, a former finance minister and an economist renowned for his work on Pakistan's labour force, put the jobless rate at a record "11-12%, conservatively". Pakistan on Monday observed a day of mourning after the latest boat disaster. At least 209 Pakistanis were believed to be on board, according to official data based on information provided by relatives.Muhammad Nadeem, 38, was aboard a boat that sank off Libya in February, killing more than 70.
"The way the situation is here right now, people think that foreign currency is going up in value, so whatever they earn it will multiply when they send it back," said Sarwar Warraich, an FIA official based in Gujrat."He saw friends and people in his neighbourhood had gone. He saw that they were successful, and hoped god would make him successful too," said Nadeem's cousin, Muhammad Zubair.
Nazim, who said he entered Europe illegally via Turkey in the 1990s and eventually obtained residency, said he understood why people wanted to leave Pakistan. "What can a poor man do," he said. "The conditions of the country are now like this." "Those who are getting money from abroad, they are able to survive," Ilyas said, puffing on his hookah.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Greece boat tragedy: At least 209 Pakistanis were on board, data suggestsThere were at least 209 Pakistani 'victims' on an overloaded boat that capsized and sank in open seas off Greece last week, according to data shared by a Pakistani investigative agency with Reuters on Thursday.
Read more »
At least 209 Pakistanis were on board migrant boat that sank off Greece, data suggestsAt least 209 Pakistanis were on an overloaded boat that capsized and sank in open seas off Greece last week, according to data shared with Reuters on Thursday by a Pakistani investigative agency.
Read more »
Europe's first reusable rocket launch scrubbed just after countdownThe launch of Spanish rocket company PLD Space's Miura 1 launch system is just 'a matter of time', according to CEO Raúl Torres.
Read more »
Google’s Nest cameras are randomly going offline in EuropeNest Cam owners have been complaining about the issues this week
Read more »
Europe hands Artemis 2 moon mission's service module over to NASAPapers were just signed to deliver the Artemis 2 service module into NASA's possession.
Read more »
BYD Dolphin Launches In Europe Starting At €29,990BYD recently announced European pricing for the Dolphin. It'll start at £25,800 in the UK or €29,990 for the rest of Europe.
Read more »