Since 2016, the MRCs operate to provide potential and outgoing migrants with information and counselling in various areas such as overseas employment, rights and protection of migrants, access to education systems in other countries, skills development, and vocational training programmes in Pakistan. More importantly, our team of counsellors provides you with awareness on the benefits of safe and
regular migration and the dangers and consequences of irregular migration. The MRCs are set up at Islamabad and Lahore respectively under the auspices of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) and Labour and Human Resource Department (LHRD), Punjab. In essence, MRC strives to provide:
- Clear, accessible, and understandable information to potential migrants on possibilities for orderly migration, as well as rules and regulations, including relevant pre-departure information;
- Pre-departure orientation and information on work and living conditions abroad and their rights and obligations to outgoing migrants;
- Awareness raising of and providing clear information to potential migrants on the risks and dangers associated with irregular migration. MRCs do not only focus on the general public/ future migrants but also other institutionalized stakeholders (governmental and non-governmental), who are directly or indirectly involved in the facilitation or communication of migration related issues. Thus, MRCs conduct several information sessions at vocational and technical training institutes, universities, colleges, and schools as well as with the communities. Our counsellors continuously research and collect updated information on regular migrations pathways for Pakistanis. We can support you with the following information and activities:
1. Customized and country specific pre- departure trainings upon request;
2. Career counselling and information on scholarship opportunities;
3. Providing counselling and pshyco-social support, behavioral adaptability, and communication skills to the intending, outgoing, and returning migrants;
4. Awareness raising on safe and regular migration and travel abroad;
5. Supporting return and reintegration of migrants by linking them with relevant institutions;
7. Build the capacity of local organisations and partners on migration;
8. Develop and deliver trainings on financial literacy for migrants and their families. The MRCs are mainly funded by the European Union. Additional funding for awareness raising and capacity building actions is also received from German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior Austria and Bulgaria. All project activities are implemented by International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).