Migration as a Pathway to Sustainable Development: Assessing the Role of Return Migration in Poverty Reduction and Environmental Sustainability in Pakistan

This study focuses on the issues of poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability, exploring the complex between migration patterns and sustainable development results is outcomes. The survey was designed on a cross-sectional approach through which 350 research participants in the four provinces of Pakistan, rural and urban migrants, international returnees, and non-migrants representing various demographics in terms of organization affiliation, such as NGOs, government institutions, and the privately-owned sector, were approached to respond to the questions designed in a survey form. Findings show that migration can be considered a significant initiative for poverty alleviation, as migrant households have a 34 percent higher income and 42 percent improved access to basic services compared to non-migrant households. The most substantial positive effect on local developmental initiatives was observed among the international returnees (r = .67, p < .001), and the intermediate improvements in environmental awareness and sustainable conduct with rural-urban migrants (r =.43, p < .01). As the research shows, the remittances are a relevant source of funding the local sustainable development project, of which the recipient households invest in 68 percent in education, healthcare, and environmental protection measures. Policy implications suggest that organized migration plans, along with focused incentives for return migration, may significantly aid Pakistan in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals.