ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the relevant authorities to further strengthen the legal framework to curb human smuggling.

The prime minister, chairing the maiden meeting of the task force formed to curb human smuggling asked the interior ministry to extend cooperation to the law ministry for the purpose.

Calling for a swift enforcement of the Federal Prosecution Act 2023, he asked the Federal Investigation Agency to submit the data on human smugglers collected during the investigation to the Foreign Office to ensure their early extradition.

The prime minister ordered the issuance of red warrants of proclaimed offenders in human smuggling cases, emphasising collective effort to do away with the menace.

He also instructed for an accelerated induction of the required workforce for the arrest and prosecution of human smugglers.

Prime Minister Shehbaz told the meeting that 27 human smugglers involved in the Morocco boat capsizing incident had been identified and five of them had already been arrested.

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Earleir, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condoled over the death of five people as an LPG bowser exploded in Multan which also left several others injured.

In their separately issued statements, the president and the prime minister conveyed their condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families.