Greece to give Pakistanis 5 years work visa from next year. The visa is based on seasonal employment which will allow total stay in Greece for five years. According to the news media sources, Notis Mitarakis, Minister of Immigration and Asylum, held talks this week in Pakistan with the country’s political leadership.
The new visa will allow Pakistanis skilled and nonskilled workers to stay 9 months a year in Greece and 3 months in Pakistan. Greece and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of cooperation to stop the flow of illegal immigrants from Pakistan and provide Greece with human resources through legal immigration channels and tough immigration policies.
Immigration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarakis met with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan as part of his official visit to Islamabad. According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, Mr. Mitarakis had talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Resources Development, Mohammad Ayub Afridi, and the two Ministers exchanged views on ways to strengthen cooperation between Greece and Pakistan. immigration, but also the fight against irregularities in Greece.
Notis Mitarakis, with his visit to Pakistan, seeks to support the legal immigration for the needs of the Greek economy, with the aim of combating the illegal arrivals of immigrants in Greece and on the other hand to return to Pakistan those who arrive in Greece. without having the right to stay in the country.
He said:
“We propose seasonal work of up to nine months a year versus long-term settlement,” Notis Mitarakis wrote in person about his talks in Pakistan.
During the talks, Notis Mitarakis also noted:
“We know very well why people move illegally from one country to another and become immigrants because in the past the history of Greece is similar to the history of Pakistan. Unfortunately, there was no strong close connection between Pakistan and Greece, which is why Pakistanis living in Greece face difficulties. Pakistan and the Hellenic Republic maintain friendly relations. A strong Pakistani diaspora of over 60,000 is an important economic and cultural bridge between the two countries. The visit will further strengthen the cooperation ties between Pakistan and Greece.”
According to the press release of the Pakistani government, however:
“The aim of the new policy will be to provide a visa for 5 years (seasonal immigrants). Every year the immigrant can stay in Greece for 9 months and spend the rest in his homeland. The three major policy objectives are:
- the issuance of new visas through legal channels.
- legalization of illegal immigrants
- elimination of smuggling and illegal immigration
On the other hand, the Greek side states that “the government’s goal is to support legal immigration to meet the needs of the Greek economy while combating illegal arrivals and the return of those who do not have the right to stay.
Mr. Mitarakis and Mr. Afridi agreed on the need to promote legal migration routes at the expense of smuggling networks that endanger human lives. In this context, they co-signed a Declaration of Intent for the establishment of technical talks between the two ministries, as well as for the conclusion of a memorandum of cooperation in the near future, which will cover legal immigration issues and facilitate the return of irregular migrants.
Mr. Mitarakis invited Mr. Afridi to visit Greece in the coming months, in order to continue their talks. The two ministers presented the results of their talks to the Pakistani prime minister, pledging to seek effective solutions to immigration issues. According to the Greek ministry, the Pakistani prime minister welcomed the Greek approach, congratulating the two ministries on their desire to strengthen cooperation on issues of legal immigration and the fight against irregularities.