Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to take decisive action against human trafficking, which he said harms Pakistan’s global image, and demanded a report on cases involving Pakistani citizens from the past year.

Chairing a meeting on the recent boat tragedy near Greece that claimed the lives of Pakistani nationals, the prime minister expressed concern over recurring incidents and the lack of effective action against traffickers. “The repeated occurrence of such incidents is due to inadequate efforts against those involved,” he said, referencing a similar tragedy last year in which 262 Pakistanis lost their lives.

Sharif instructed the immediate implementation of the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to monitor international travel and curb trafficking.

Officials briefed the prime minister that 174 suspects had been presented in court this year, with four convictions. He demanded further updates on public awareness campaigns against human trafficking and instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the foreign ministry to submit a detailed report.

Sharif also emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation with international organizations to prevent such tragedies and called for stricter penalties for traffickers.

Federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Ahad Cheema, and Attaullah Tarar, along with Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and senior officials, attended the meeting.