A migrant caught between a rock and a hard place

HELMAND (SW) – Out of desperation and crippling poverty, Helmand resident Najibullah opted for trying his luck through illegal migration to neighboring Pakistan.  

After days of quest, he found a human smuggler who promised to help him cross over from Afghanistan to Pakistan. Najibullah paid his hardly-earned savings to the human smuggler for the purpose. In a bid to reach Lahore city, Najibullah faced persecution in Pakistan at each security check post, and paid bride for his way throughout. This, however, did not save him from the harassment.

Poor Najibullah was promised a jobs as a laborer in a factory in Lahore, but the human smuggler did not keep his words leaving the Helmandi man wonder on the streets of unfamiliar city for a month. Narrating the dreadful tale, Najibullah said he would spend all day in quest for work, and would sleep on streets or in public parks under open sky.

Out of apprehensions, he finally agreed to work in a roadside restaurant for 3000 rupees ($ 21) a month. But, the tragedy did not end here. The owner of the restaurant declines to pay him salary at the end of the month. For Najibullah, there was no other option left, but to continue working while hoping to get paid one day. After few months of hard work and repeated requests, he was finally paid for just a month.

One day, the Punjab police arrested Najibullah, and immediately threw him in to prison. Now, it has been few months that he is back in Helmand with empty hands and troubled mind. He regrets paying his hardly-earned savings to the human smuggler.

Now, the question arises what plans and incentives have the government or the aid agencies in place for such dejected people who have returned home after unsuccessful bid for migration.

Syed Mohammad Ramin, head of the directorate of refugees and repatriates, said the government has inked memorandums with international organizations that are aimed at providing shelters to the desperate and needy repatriates. He said the repatriated people are also provided financial aid.

The tale of Najibulllah is similar to many such Afghans who are either deported, or are in foreign countries or thinking about escape from the country.

ENDS