Lahore, Pakistan | 13 January 2026
The European Union (EU) Delegation in Islamabad and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) visited the Airport Reception Desk (ARD) at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, established under the EU-funded Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees and Improved Migration Management in Pakistan (RoR) project, implemented by ICMPD through Migrant Resource Centres.
The delegation comprised of Mr. Andras Kocsar (Visa Advisor, Embassy of Hungary, Islamabad), Ms. Mouna Bouda (Counsellor, EU Delegation), Mr. Ralf Schöpflin (FRONTEX Liaison Officer to Pakistan), and Ms. Meriem El Harouchi (First Secretary, EU Delegation to Pakistan), together with the ICMPD Pakistan team.
During the visit, the delegation met with FIA officials, engaged with WELDO, service reintegration support service provider under the RoR project, and observed the operations and referral mechanisms of the Airport Reception Desk (ARD) for returnees and deportees. The delegation witnessed the provision of immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, hygiene kits, blankets, shoes, and socks, and was briefed on the referral process through which returnees are connected to WELDO for additional support services such as information provision, transportation, communication, food, and temporary shelter, ensuring dignified, timely, and coordinated assistance upon arrival.
Under the RoR project, Airport Reception Desks, staffed by Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) counsellors and hosted by the Overseas Pakistan Foundation (OPF), have been established at Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar airports. These Desks serve as the first point of contact for returnees regarding reintegration information, facilitating access to onward services and referrals essential for their sustainable reintegration into society. MRCs may also be accessed directly for referral and support.
The delegation appreciated and commended the collective efforts of ICMPD and its partner organisations in supporting returnees and strengthening reintegration mechanisms, reaffirming their commitment to promoting safe, dignified, and sustainable reintegration for a better future in Pakistan.
These activities are organised as part of the ‘Sustainable Reintegration of Returnees and Improved Migration Management in Pakistan’ (RoR) project, part of broader support of the European Union, in partnership with ICMPD, to Pakistan’s migration and border management efforts. It links with the already established network of Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar with the support of ICMPD. The concept of MRC paired with government capacity building in many migration-related areas, including return and reintegration, has been established and developed in Pakistan and numerous other countries in Central Asia and the Silk Routes region.
