A. Background and Introduction
The Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) in Islamabad and Lahore are respectively working under the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) as well as the Department of Labour, Punjab (DoL) since 2016. The aim of the MRCs is to increase the accessibility of intending migrants, migrant workers, and their families to general and specific information on migration and work abroad. The MRCs provide free of cost services to Pakistani nationals, which include:
Information on migration pathways, specific country and travel information, and protection mechanisms available;
Counselling for intending and outgoing migrants as well as their families;
Pre-departure orientation and briefing;
Complaint facilitation and referral support to migration relevant authorities.
A 2019 study has identified the need to further reach out at community level with information sessions and options for personal counselling. The MRC has limited physical presence in the country and therefore wants work with and develop a network of civil society organisations to raise awareness on migration in selected districts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. Within this context, ICMPD is seeking to engage with national organisations to jointly conduct community awareness sessions on: the processes and challenges involved in migration, precautionary and preventative measures related to COVID-19, awareness on irregular migration, economic and livelihood challenges faced by migrants and their families, the role of MRCs and relevant government institutions in promoting regular migration and understanding the mechanism of return and reintegration for migrants. In line with social distancing measures, these sessions will be conducted in a mix of online and physical field-based sessions.
Please find details in attached file.