DM Monitoring
Athens: Greece has reportedly cancelled the visas of hundreds of Pakistanis, and those who migrate or work in the Mediterranean country will be subjected to more stringent checks.
Directus quoted Pakistani media as saying: “The Greek embassy in Islamabad has so far cancelled the visas of hundreds of poor Pakistanis. These Pakistanis get Greek visas by paying 2 to 5 million rupees. When a visa is issued from Greece, the Greek Embassy cancels it. A big injustice to those innocent poor who pay money to get a visa first for work. And the Greek embassy in Islamabad cancels visas.”
Urdu Media Greece says there have been calls and messages from hundreds of Pakistani families who have also wasted their money due to their visas being rejected.
“We appeal to the Greek and Pakistani governments to take this issue seriously. Why are they wasting the money of poor Pakistanis?” Urdu Media Greece questioned.
This is the story of Pakistanis attempting to legally enter Greece, but there are thousands more who enter the country and Europe through illegal means.
A Pakistani smuggler named Husnain Shah has been a smuggler for more than a decade but denies he played a large role in the shipwreck off the coast of Greece, which led to around 300 Pakistani deaths.
He told the media, “There is so much unemployment here people show up to our houses and ask us to put them in touch with someone who can take their brothers and sons abroad.” Husnain believes he has taken thousands of people in his years operating.
“I started this because there was no other business. I don’t have a main role; it’s the people sitting in Libya who are very big and rich; we don’t even get the main share, not even a tenth of the amount.”
With the economy teetering on edge, inflation reaching nearly 40%, and the Pakistani rupee dropping in value, many here are looking to go abroad, where even a low salary will likely exceed anything they can earn if they stay.
A survey at the end of last year found that 62% of boys and young men aged 15-24 wanted to leave. While some will try to go legally, others will find alternative illegal routes.
