By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan joined the international community in observing the World Day against Human Trafficking with a renewed resolve to continue collective efforts, with unwavering determination, to combat the grave global crime.
In his message on the occasion, being observed on July 30, the prime minister said human trafficking was not merely a transnational crime but one of the most serious and organised violations of human rights, a global menace that transcended national borders and exploited social vulnerabilities and human suffering.
He said the heinous crime could only be effectively countered through a united, steadfast and comprehensive strategy at both national and international levels, adding that its complete eradication demanded a multidimensional approach encompassing robust legal, social, administrative, governmental and community-level measures.
The prime minister noted that human trafficking was intrinsically linked to other forms of organised crime, including irregular migration, forged travel documents, money laundering and forced labour, and said addressing its complex causes and manifestations required close coordination among all relevant national institutions.
He said the government had devised a comprehensive strategy aimed at proactively dismantling human trafficking networks across the country, under which law enforcement agencies, particularly the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), had been equipped with preventive mechanisms to detect and disrupt trafficking activities before they occurred.
The prime minister said Pakistan continued to strengthen national and international cooperation in combating human trafficking through close coordination with provincial governments, local law enforcement agencies and international partners, including INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and competent authorities of other countries.
He added that specialised training was being provided to the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Units to ensure that victims were treated with compassion, dignity and respect, while perpetrators were brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The prime minister said eliminating the scourge of human trafficking required not only sustained state action but also the active cooperation, awareness and sense of responsibility of every citizen. He urged every Pakistani to remain vigilant and assist in identifying individuals and networks involved in human trafficking, and to pay particular attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of society to ensure they did not fall prey to exploitative elements.
He said civic responsibility demanded that any suspicious activity be reported immediately through the FIA’s helplines or relevant reporting portals so that timely action could be taken against criminal elements.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised that victims of human trafficking were not criminals but victims of exploitation who deserved protection, compassion, psychological support and dignified reintegration into society. He reaffirmed that the government remained committed to ensuring state institutions provided them with legal protection, psychosocial assistance and rehabilitation services necessary to rebuild their lives with dignity.
He called for a collective commitment to work together to build a Pakistan where human trafficking is eradicated and where the youth have abundant opportunities for employment, prosperity and a secure future.
