ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to take strong action against human trafficking, stressing that such activities damage Pakistan's international reputation.

He demanded a detailed report on the number of cases involving Pakistani citizens over the past year, following the tragic boat capsizing near Greece, which claimed the lives of several Pakistani nationals. During a meeting on the incident, the prime minister expressed deep concern over the recurring tragedies involving Pakistanis and the slow pace of action against traffickers.

He recalled a similar tragedy last year, when 262 Pakistanis perished in a similar incident. Sharif criticized the lack of decisive steps against those responsible, calling for urgent measures to tackle the problem.

To address the issue, PM Sharif ordered the immediate implementation of the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS), a system designed to monitor international travel and curb human trafficking.

Officials informed the prime minister that this year, 174 suspects had been brought before the courts, and four of them had been convicted. However, Sharif emphasized that more needs to be done to combat trafficking, particularly in terms of increasing convictions and ensuring stricter penalties for offenders.

The prime minister also sought updates on the ongoing public awareness campaign against human trafficking and instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the foreign ministry to prepare a comprehensive report on the issue.

He called for greater collaboration with international organizations to prevent such incidents in the future and stressed the need for stronger legal action.

The meeting was attended by key federal ministers, including Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Ahad Cheema, and Attaullah Tarar, as well as Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and senior government officials.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 19 2024

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