22/09/2026
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY BRINGS DMW SECRETARY CACDAC AND FILIPINOS ACROSS PAKISTAN TOGETHER FOR TOWN HALL
From Manila to Islamabad—and from Lahore, Karachi and beyond—the conversation on migrant-worker protection came directly to our kababayans.
The Philippine Embassy in Islamabad brought together Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and members of the Filipino community in Pakistan for a hybrid Town Hall Meeting on 17 September 2026, making the most of the Secretary’s first official visit to the country by giving Filipinos an opportunity to speak directly with the officials responsible for policies affecting migrant workers.
And some of our kababayans went the extra mile—quite literally—to be there.
FilCom representatives from Lahore travelled approximately five hours by road to Islamabad, while representatives from Karachi flew to the capital, bringing with them their experiences, concerns, and recommendations for Secretary Cacdac and the DMW delegation.
But distance did not have to keep anyone out of the conversation.
For Filipinos who could not make the journey to Islamabad, the Embassy opened the Town Hall online through Google Meet, allowing members of the community elsewhere in Pakistan to join virtually and see and hear the discussions happening live at the Embassy.
The Philippines’ honorary consular network was also represented. Honorary Consul General in Karachi Dr. Muhammad Imran Yousuf joined online and sent Consular Officer Mr. Muhammad Shariq to participate in person. Honorary Consul in Lahore Mr. Fahdel Sheikh was likewise present at the Embassy, together with incoming Honorary Consul in Peshawar Mr. Muhammad Hanif Gohar.
Whether seated inside Lucenario Hall or joining through a screen from another city, Filipino community members were given the same important opportunity: to be heard.
One of the major issues raised was the existing restriction on the deployment of newly hired Filipino Household Service Workers (HSWs) to Pakistan. Community representatives appealed for a review of the policy and discussed how a safe, regular, documented, and properly regulated deployment pathway, supported by strong safeguards, could better protect Filipino workers.
The Embassy likewise reiterated the importance of strengthening DMW’s institutional coverage of Pakistan, including through a Migrant Workers Office (MWO) or, as an interim measure, a formally designated non-resident MWO with jurisdiction over Pakistan.
Why does this matter?
Because regular migration is also worker protection.
When employment goes through proper channels, the Philippine Government is better able to verify employers and contracts, regulate recruitment, document workers, provide accurate information before deployment, and assist our kababayans when problems arise.
The Town Hall was only one part of a substantive visit. The Philippine Embassy also joined Secretary Cacdac at the Budapest Process Thematic Working Group Meeting on Legal Pathways for Migration, where he shared the Philippines’ experience in fair and ethical recruitment and emphasized the importance of effective regulation, social protection, skills development, access to justice, international cooperation, and government presence overseas.
The Embassy also facilitated a meeting with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain. Ambassador Emmanuel R. Fernandez and Third Secretary and Vice Consul Rain R. Mendoza joined the DMW delegation as the Philippine and Pakistani sides explored cooperation on skills development, social protection, worker welfare, reintegration, and labor-migration governance. 🇵🇭🤝🇵🇰
In one visit, the Philippine Embassy and DMW connected three important conversations: international discussions on ethical migration, bilateral cooperation with Pakistan, and—at the heart of it all—the voices of Filipinos themselves.
Good migrant-worker policy cannot be made from a distance. It must also be informed by the experiences of the people it is meant to serve.
Maraming salamat to our kababayans who travelled from other cities, those who joined us virtually, and our honorary consular representatives who helped make this a genuinely nationwide conversation.
And thank you to Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and the DMW delegation for listening, engaging, and bringing Manila closer to our Filipino community in Pakistan.
The Philippine Embassy in Islamabad will continue to serve as a bridge between our kababayans and the Philippine Government, while working with DMW and Pakistani authorities toward stronger protection and welfare mechanisms for Filipinos in Pakistan. 🇵🇭
