ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President, Dr. Arif Alvi, stated on Saturday that the country is dedicated to tackling the threat of human trafficking by developing an efficient coordination infrastructure to punish traffickers and safeguard victims.
“Pakistan has embarked on stringent anti-trafficking measures to enforce legal frameworks in accordance with international standards. Pakistan has enacted the Trafficking in Person Act 2018 to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, particularly women and children, and this law prescribes imprisonment of up to ten years for perpetrators of such illegal acts,” the president said in a message commemorating the “World Day Against Human Trafficking,” which is observed on July 30.
The president also announced the formation of the National Coordination Committee against Human Trafficking, which will be chaired by the Minister of the Interior.
“The Committee is in charge of directing national efforts to combat all types of human trafficking, including bonded labor and sex trafficking,” he stated.
All relevant provincial departments, including social welfare, labor, police, child protection, and non-governmental organizations, are included in provincial and district anti-human trafficking committees for close coordination in order to effectively identify and protect victims of human trafficking, he added.
The president stated that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has produced a National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2021–2025).
He noted that the action plan emphasizes the involvement of all stakeholders and provides a comprehensive framework for the national response.
According to President Alvi, the day against human trafficking is held yearly on July 30th to raise awareness about the situation of victims of human trafficking and to promote and preserve their rights. The day was commemorated to draw attention to a crime that has a long-term impact on human lives and society as a whole.
“It is one of the most serious human rights crimes, bringing significant profits to traffickers via the exploitation of human beings using criminal tactics such as force, fraud, or deceit,” he continued.
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The president also praised and recognized the efforts of the federal and provincial governments, as well as all other key partners, in combating this crime.
