By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly’s Special Parliamentary Committee on Combating Human Trafficking has called for immediate implementation of key measures under the National Action Plan to eliminate human trafficking and illegal trafficking of migrants both within the country and across borders.
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The meeting of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling was convened at the Punjab Assembly chaired by MPA Uzma Kardar.
The session was attended by key stakeholders, including administrative secretaries, the additional inspector general of police, deputy commissioners, district police officers from high-risk districts, representatives from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), civil society groups and foreign delegates.
The meeting addressed the critical issue of human trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), which continues to devastate communities in Punjab and beyond. MPA Uzma Kardar who is the convener of the committee, emphasized the gravity of the situation noting the loss of hundreds of Pakistani lives in recent tragedies involving irregular cross-border smuggling to Greece and Spain. She highlighted that internal trafficking, which exploits individuals through bonded labor and forced commercial sex work, remains a significant problem that tarnishes Pakistan’s international reputation. She said that the Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has introduced several programs for youth and women in Punjab to create local opportunities through empowerment of young people.
“The government of Pakistan is committed to tackling TIP and SOM both within the country and across borders. The government has made national action plan to curb trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants within and outside the country. However, to effectively address this issue, a unified and robust approach is essential,” said MPA Uzma Kardar.
She also acknowledged the support of civil society organizations like the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) and Kusar Abbas whose advocacy efforts contributed to the establishment of the committee and have been instrumental in raising awareness on the issue.
