By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: Meeting of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Persons & Smuggling of Migrants has held at the Punjab Assembly, Lahore. The meeting was chaired by MPA Uzma Kardar chairperson of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Anti Human Trafficking and Smuggling in Punjab.
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She appreciated and acknowledged that this Committee was formed following sustained advocacy and capacity-building efforts led by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) through its Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas. The initiative has been recognized as a national success in the U.S. TIP Report 2025, highlighting Pakistan’s progress in strengthening parliamentary oversight on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Interior, FIA, Home Department, Labour Department, Child Protection & Welfare Bureau, Women Protection, Higher Education Department, Prosecution Department, Provincial Police, SSDO, District Police Officers, TEVTA, NAVTTC, Deputy Commissioners from hotspot districts, and Vice Chancellors of 10 universities.
The Committee urged all departments and district administrations to take proactive measures to discourage irregular migration, trafficking in persons, and visa misuse in their respective jurisdictions. Departments were encouraged to promote safe, regular, and skill-based migration pathways and engage local communities through awareness at the constituency level.
The Committee will also conduct district-level visits to review the performance of local anti-trafficking committees, ensuring local-level accountability. It was agreed that the Committee will meet every quarter to ensure timely compliance and coordinated follow-through on assigned actions.
Together, we remain committed to strengthening coordination, enhancing institutional responses, and building stronger protection mechanisms across Punjab.
