Salima's Clothing Designs

Salima left Pakistan to travel to Ireland in 2010, where she met her husband. They were living together for some time when the relationship broke down.  Salima then decided to apply for asylum and moved into an accommodation centre for several months. Salima had heard about the voluntary return programme through IOM and established contact. After some thought she decided that she still wanted to stay in Ireland and decided not to proceed. However, she did not want to continue living in the accommodation centre.

Salima contacted a family she knew from Pakistan who were living in Dublin. They had previously offered her a place in their house and to help her with her asylum claim. After she moved in with them, however, she discovered that they were not able to provide the assistance they promised and she was not happy with the living conditions. Once she realized this, Salima decided to approach IOM once again for assistance in returning to Pakistan.

After she returned, Salima applied for reintegration assistance through the IOM office in Lahore. She used the fund to start a clothing business, where she is able to design, sell, and trade clothing. “I make clothes, because I am a designer, and send them to my sister to Dubai. She has launched a brand there, so I send the clothes from here and she sells them there.”

IOM staff visited Salima in Pakistan in 2012. Salima said that although she finds Ireland a safer place, for her the best option was to return. She is happy to be living in Pakistan with her parents and engaged in her new business. She hopes that it will continue to grow, and that she can become a clothing designer in the future.