European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner launched the new IBM PAK €5 million EU-funded project in Islamabad, Pakistan to strengthen integrated border management and risk analysis. Concluding the National Risk Analysis Summit on 13 October 2026, the launch marks strengthened cooperation between the EU Pakistan and on migration and border management. Co-organised by ICMPD and Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Summit highlighted the progress made by the Agency’ Risk Analysis Unit (RAU), also established with EU support.
"Pakistan is a key partner for the European Union, and I welcome the strong cooperation we have built on migration. Together we are advancing a comprehensive and balanced agenda: combatting irregular migration and migrant smuggling, supporting the sustainable reintegration of returning migrants, and expanding legal pathways. Today, the European Union is stepping up this partnership with new support for integrated border management and risk analysis. Together, we are building a migration partnership that makes mobility safer, borders stronger and our citizens better protected," Commissioner Brunner said in his keynote address at the Summit.
The newly launched project builds on progress achieved under initiatives supported by the EU and Member States to strengthen strategic governance and operational capacities of Pakistani migration and border management agencies. This includes developing an integrated border management framework and the adoption of internationally recognised risk analysis methodologies.
The Summit brought together senior representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control and border management agencies, the EU Delegation to Pakistan, Frontex, EU Member State Immigration Liaison Officers and other international partners. “Our agencies have intensified action against the agents and facilitators of human smuggling, and Parliament has toughened the law. These measures have significantly reduced illegal migration from Pakistan towards Europe. Our aim is to close the smuggling routes altogether while keeping the doors of legal migration open, because every young Pakistani who finds a legal route to Europe is one less customer for a smuggler. I thank the European Union for its partnership with Pakistan. Its support has strengthened our risk analysis capacity, and further support the will consolidate these gains,” said Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Mr Talal Chaudhry, at the Summit.
ICMPD will jointly implement the IBM PAK project with the CIVIPOL; working closely with Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, the Land Port Authority, and the FIA to strengthen capacities to develop and implement border management policies and practices that are integrated, protection sensitive and gender responsive.
In his closing remarks, FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar, reflected on how far the RAU has come since the FIA established it as its first ever risk analysis unit. “With support from the European Union and ICMPD, FIA plans to extend the zonal risk analysis function to all zones across Pakistan. Together with the Annual Risk Analysis Report and the priority risk profiles presented earlier in the day, these developments provide the Agency with a consistent evidence base for immigration control decisions. Enhanced risk profiling has made a significant contribution to the FIA’s efforts to prevent irregular migration through Pakistan’s borders,” Dr Anwar said.
The Summit concluded with the ceremonial signing of IBM PAK project by Mr Raimundas Karoblis, EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Ms Marija Raus, Head of ICMPD Silk Routes Region and Head of the Budapest Process Secretariat, and Mr Jules Pautrat, CIVIPOL Project Manager; in the presence of Commissioner Brunner, Minister of State Chaudhry, FIA Director General Dr Anwar, and MD Pakistan Land Port Authority (PLPA) Lieutenant General (R) Hassan Azhar Hayat.
ICMPD is committed to support the EU and Pakistan to strengthen cooperation on border management and migration governance. With a significant drop in the irregular arrivals of Pakistani nationals at EU external borders, results so far are a testament to the determination to tackle irregular migration. We believe that cooperation will also bring a meaningful contribution to the Eastern Corridor Initiative and strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with the EU to achieve other migration related priorities.ICMPD’s Head of Silk Routes Region Marija Raus said.
Pakistan is one of the priority countries of the Budapest Process, one of the world’s longest running migration dialogues.
Background
The National Risk Analysis Summit is a flagship event of the Risk Analysis Pakistan – Phase II (RAPAK II) project, implemented by ICMPD with funding from the EU through the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF).
RAPAK II aims to enhance the capacities of national border management agencies in Pakistan through improved strategic planning, risk analysis and inter-agency coordination. The project supports the FIA in strengthening its immigration control functions through risk analysis aligned with European practices, promotes coordination among border management agencies within an integrated border management framework, and facilitates cooperation between Pakistan and the European Union in countering irregular migration, human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Support to Integrated Border Management in Pakistan (IBM PAK), implementing 2026-2029, advances the capacities of Pakistan’s relevant border management agencies across five areas. These include development and implementation of, IBM policies, strategies and legislation; operational capacity of border agencies; investigative capacity; professionalisation of border agencies; and information sharing and peer to peer exchanges with countries in the region and along migration routes, the European Union and its Member States.
More information here.
