Pakistanis in Italy and their Motivations Choosing Italy as their Destination Country

- In this study we explored the latest migration trends of Pakistani community and their migration decisions. For the better understanding, we conducted a survey and interviewed Pakistanis in different cities of Italy. The survey was fully voluntary and anonymous. According to Italian bureau of Statistics ISTAT, there were 122,884 Pakistanis in Italy till 2016, mostly living in the northern Italy. This study mainly presents the distributional analysis of demographic profile of Pakistanis in Italy. It further aims to understanding their causes of migration and particularly choosing Italy as their destination country and impact on their socioeconomic conditions after migration. Lewis (1954), Ranis & Fei (1961) and Harris & Todaro (1970)’s wage differentials and demographic differences theories of migration, Lee (1966)’s Push-pull factors and NELM theory of migration are best suited with Pakistani migrants in Italy. This study concludes that majority of Pakistanis in Italy are from Central-Punjab with lower educational background, lower level of skills and mainly employed in secondary sector doing lower-status jobs in Italy. Pakistanis have a good repute, considered hardworking, and they choose Italy for better work opportunities and flexible immigration policies, and no racism towards them.