During meetings in Islamabad on 7 October, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Tomasz Siemoniak and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi pledged to create “safe and orderly” channels for Pakistani nationals seeking work in Poland and wider Europe. The ministers said a joint task-force will draft memoranda on labour mobility, mutual legal assistance and information-sharing to curb human smuggling. Pakistan is already the fifth-largest source of non-EU workers in Poland’s construction sector, but officials admit that complex documentation and the use of unlicensed recruiters push many into irregular routes via Belarus and the Western Balkans. Under the proposed framework, Poland would recognise biometric clearances issued by Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment and fast-track work-permit applications submitted through accredited agencies. No quotas or new visa categories were announced, but both sides hinted that limited visa-free travel for holders of official passports could be introduced in 2027. For employers the immediate impact is reputational: the Polish Border Guard noted a 64 % drop in apprehensions of Pakistani irregular migrants since Islamabad began a crackdown on traffickers this summer. Companies hiring from Pakistan should therefore expect stricter audits of employment contracts and proof of qualifications as authorities try to ensure that new legal pathways do not become loopholes for abuse. Global mobility teams should monitor forthcoming task-force communiqués and verify that overseas employment promoters used in Pakistan are registered with the BE&OE. Recruiters anticipate that Poland may pilot an online appointment system at its Islamabad visa section in early 2027, similar to the e-consulate model used for India and the Philippines. Until then, standard D-type national work visas remain the only option for Pakistani workers.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan
