KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples' Party MPA Sharmila Farooqui said that besides challenges of economic and political uncertainty, Pakistan also has another crisis to deal with human trafficking.

 "We must enhance cooperation and coordination among law-enforcement agencies, non-government organisations and relevant stakeholders to combat human trafficking effectively. Such collaboration can ensure comprehensive response to issue," she said in statement on eve of World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2023 being observed today.

"Provincial governments must train police, labour inspectors and social services to systematically and proactively identify trafficking victims, she maintained.

Sharmila said that time to act against human trafficking is now, so that people could be to rescued, protected and empowered. By uniting against human trafficking, we can pave way for brighter and better future. Let us stand as one against this scourge, dismantling shadows and illuminating path towards freedom, she added.

Sharmila said, "As country grapples with one challenge after another, its vulnerable citizens find themselves at mercy of ruthless traffickers. Unstable economies and corrupt systems turn these vulnerable people into defenceless prey."

She said that with rising poverty, unemployment and inequalities, Pakistan has become breeding ground for modern-day slavery. People's desperation urges them to conceal horrors they face and continue to live life of exploitation. This is especially so for women and children.

She said that escalating risks of trafficking in Pakistan are evident from an increase in trafficking victims. In 2022, government of Pakistan reported staggering 35,309 trafficking victims, compared to 21,253 victims in 2021, significant increase of over 14,000 victims. Traffickers continue to thrive here due to corruption and lax enforcement by law-enforcement agencies, Sharmila added.

She said that Pakistan ranks eighth out of 167 countries in terms of prevalence of modern-day slavery. "Several factors contribute to this alarming situation, including high unemployment rate, increasing cost of living, poverty, illiteracy and worsening economic conditions.

Sharmila informed that Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2022 reveals that approximately 1.0 million people enter labour market in Pakistan each year. However, limited absorption capacity of labour market means that over half of these new entrants struggle to find jobs. Influx of trafficked workforce into an already saturated market further exacerbates situation, making it imperative to address this crisis urgently, she added.