COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications of Public Health Emergency on Migration and Repatriation in Pakistan

Abstract

The study sheds light on the current global; situation posed by a pandemic; COVID 19 and the impact it has brought to a country like Pakistan in terms of repatriation of its migrants. The data gathered for the study were qualitative with an exploratory research design. Content analysis has been used as the primary method and tool for analysis of data that has been gathered from the latest news, updates, articles, blogs, press briefings and articles published on the pandemic and its implications on migrants across the globe and specifically Pakistan over the past six months. The study highlights the effects of these global alterations on human mobility in our local context and efforts made by the Government and its allied institutions in easing out the issues pertaining to the repatriation of returnee migrants. The findings suggest that the reintegration of returnees in the local economy and socio-cultural context will be the next challenge.