The United Nations in Pakistan has officially launched the Pakistan United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) in Islamabad—a landmark step toward coordinated migration management and combating human trafficking and smuggling.
Launch Highlights
High-Level Ceremony: Hosted by UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya.
The event also inaugurated the country’s first Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MMPTF) programme: “Strengthening Response to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Pakistan”, jointly implemented by IOM and UNODC, along with the government, private sector, media, and civil society.
Purpose & Structure
UNNM aims for a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach to migration governance, fully aligning with global standards like the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).
Coordination Structure:
IOM serves as the network’s secretariat and coordinator.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan will chair the network.
Strategic Significance
Unified Action Platform: Enables UN agencies to collaborate efficiently, promoting policy coherence, information sharing, and innovation across migration-related responses.
Amplifying Voices: Creates a protected space for changing migration narratives, safeguarding rights, and ensuring dignified treatment for people on the move. A migrant’s return story was shared during the event, emphasizing the importance of humane, organized journeys.
Funding Mechanism: The MMPTF is the UN’s only pooled fund dedicated to migration, enabling Pakistan to access resources to address trafficking and smuggling in line with GCM objectives.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Network Name | Pakistan United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) |
| Launch Event | Islamabad, hosted by UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya |
| MMPTF Programme | Joint IOM–UNODC initiative targeting trafficking and smuggling |
| Chair & Secretariat | Chair: UN Resident Coordinator; Secretariat: IOM |
| Global Alignment | Aligned with SDGs and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly Migration |
| Approach | Whole-of-society, multi-sectoral collaboration |
| Aim | Enhance migration governance, protect rights, combat trafficking |
This marks a major diplomatic and policy milestone for Pakistan, bringing together diverse stakeholders—from government and UN agencies to civil society and media—under a unified framework to more effectively manage migration and safeguard vulnerable populations.
