Call for urgent reforms to combat trafficking, irregular migration

By Asim Shahzad

LAHORE: The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) hosted a press conference in Lahore to address the Greece boat tragedy.

The event called for urgent reforms to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) and irregular migration.

The press conference featured MPA Uzma Kardar, Chairperson of the Special Committee on Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking and SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas, MPA Adnan Afzal Chattha, Focal Person for the Chief Minister’s Skill Development Initiative, Chairperson Punjab Child Protection Bureau MPA Sarah Ahmed, MPA from PTI Zainab Sher. They emphasized the critical need for policy and legislative reforms to address the systemic issues fueling irregular migration and ensure justice for the victims and their families.
Syed Kausar Abbas stated that last year, a similar boat tragedy resulted in the loss of 350 lives after which, on the instructions of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif a committee was formed under the leadership of doctor Ihsan Sadiq. This committee prepared a report, but its implementation has not been carried out to date. He urged that immediate action be taken to implement this report. He further mentioned that SSDO, along with the Parliamentary Committee will begin visiting the homes of the victims next week to take immediate measures to address their issues.
“The Greece boat tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the perils of irregular migration. It is time for Pakistan to take decisive action to strengthen its legal frameworks, enhance enforcement capacities and address the socio-economic factors driving migration,” said Syed Kausar Abbas.
Syed Kausar Abbas provided an overview of SSDO’s briefing paper, which outlines key recommendations to tackle trafficking in persons (TIP). These include amending anti-human smuggling laws to treat smuggled migrants as victims, enhancing the capacity of law enforcement and judicial institutions and creating a central coordination body to streamline inter-agency efforts. The paper also calls for nationwide awareness campaigns and international collaboration with transit countries to dismantle smuggling networks.
Chairperson of the Special Committee on Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking MPA Uzma Kardar highlighted the legislative priorities in combating trafficking in persons. “This tragedy underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms. The government is committed to working with all stakeholders to end human smuggling and ensure safe, legal migration pathways,” she remarked.
Uzma Kardar urged swift reforms to dismantle trafficking in persons networks. she stated that This tragedy has shaken us all to the core. Human trafficking is a crime against humanity and we must respond with strong laws and effective enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice.
Kardar stressed the importance of comprehensive awareness campaigns targeting at-risk communities. “We cannot allow criminal networks to exploit the hopes and dreams of our youth. The government must work alongside civil society to educate people about the dangers of irregular migration and ensure that safe, legal pathways are available.
Focal Person for the Chief Minister’s Skills and Development Program and Member of the Special Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Smuggling emphasized that we need a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to address the issues of trafficking in persons and irregular migration. Under the Punjab Chief Minister’s Skill Development Program, we are providing employment opportunities to the youth so they can achieve economic progress through legal means rather than illegal methods. We must ensure that our youth are not only trained but also made aware of the opportunities available through legal migration and economic development pathways. He further stated that urgent action must be taken to protect our youth from illegal methods. The government and civil society must work together to find a solution to this issue.
The press conference called on policymakers, civil society and the media to work collectively to address the root causes of irregular migration and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation. SSDO’s policy paper serves as a roadmap for action, reflecting the organization’s commitment to combating human smuggling through advocacy, capacity building and public awareness.
Sarah Ahmed MPA said that the committee will review the progress on the issue and will take necessary steps to address this issue. Zainab Sher said that there is a dire need to address this issue by engaging the local communities of the hotspot areas. We need to work on the mindsets of the local communities to change their mindsets about migration.