A recent advertisement in local newspapers from the Australian government warned Pakistanis against trying to enter Australia illegally. The message was targeted to stop people who are assured by people smugglers of entering Australia but they end up either dead in the sea or deported after capture by the Australian government.
The advertisement was strongly worded and contained the heading “NO WAY. You will not make Australia home.” The advertisement further warned that any boat seeking to illegally enter Australia will be intercepted and removed from Australian waters and no exception will be made for women, children, families or skilled or educated people. The ad was published in English, Urdu, Pashto, Dari and Hazargi languages.
The ad is a part of a campaign Operation Soveriegn Borders, which is an intitative by the Australian military to prevent the smuggling of people into Australia. Australia has faced an increased influx of asylum seekers from Asian countries including Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia. The Australian government has employed strict control measures and any unauthorised people are refused to enter the country and are sent to detention camps on nearby islands. The Australian government has come under increased scrutiny for its treatment of asylum seekers, but the government claims its policies are meant to prevent people risking their lives at sea.