Pakistan president, PM reaffirm commitment to efforts against human trafficking

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to combating human trafficking, describing it as one of the gravest and most organized violations of human rights and calling for sustained national and international cooperation to eliminate the crime.

President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, said, “We renew our national commitment to curb this heinous crime. Human trafficking is not merely a statutory offence but one of the gravest violations of human rights in our modern era.”

In a post on X on Thursday, the president said, “This transnational crime respects no borders, nationalities or socio-economic statuses. Those who are desperate for a better future, seeking economic opportunities or fleeing conflicts are ruthlessly targeted by criminal syndicates.”

Zardari said, “The root causes of trafficking are poverty, local and regional conflicts, lack of economic opportunities, lack of education and lack of awareness regarding immigration processes.”

“Without understanding and addressing these, the challenge cannot be tackled,” he stressed.

Reactive to proactive approach

About steps taken by the government, the president said, “Pakistan has fundamentally reshaped its strategy by strengthening collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and international partners to ensure that there are no safe havens for traffickers, whether within or outside our borders.”

“Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) stands at the front line and is deeply committed to fighting this menace on multiple fronts,” he said.

Zardari said, “We have significantly enhanced our intelligence capabilities, shifting from reactive policing to a proactive approach.”

“Our efforts to dismantle trafficking networks have intensified, resulting in the arrest of major operatives and the rescue of vulnerable victims,” he said.

President Zardari concluded his message stating, “Let us reaffirm our commitment to combat human trafficking, collaborate with international partners and create a sanctuary for people to live safely and with dignity.”

Prime minister calls for addressing root causes

In his message, shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, the prime minister said that in Pakistan and around the world, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is being observed with a renewed commitment that joint efforts to combat this global crime will continue with determination.

Gravest violations of human rights

"Human trafficking is not merely a transnational crime; it is one of the gravest and most organized violations of human rights," the prime minister said.

He said the "abhorrent crime" could only be confronted through a united, unwavering and effective strategy at both the national and international levels.

The prime minister said a comprehensive approach, along with coordinated legal, social, administrative, governmental and individual-level strategies, was indispensable for the complete eradication of the crime.

He said human trafficking was closely linked to other forms of organized crime, including irregular migration, forged travel documents, money laundering and forced labor.

"The complex nature of this crime makes close cooperation among all relevant national institutions essential to address its root causes," he said.

National strategy to combat trafficking

The prime minister said the government had developed a dedicated national strategy aimed at trafficking networks, enabling all law enforcement agencies, particularly the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), to take timely preventive and pre-emptive action before crimes occur.

He said meaningful consultations were continuing with provincial governments, local law enforcement agencies and international partners, including INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as part of the country's collective efforts to combat human trafficking.

The prime minister said eliminating human trafficking required not only state action but also the cooperation, awareness and sense of responsibility of every citizen.

He urged citizens to immediately report any suspicious activity through the FIA's helplines or relevant online portals so that timely action could be taken against criminal elements.

Victims not criminals 

The prime minister said victims of human trafficking were "not criminals—they are victims" who required government and social protection, compassion, psychological support and dignified reintegration into society.

He said the government remained committed to supporting victims by ensuring that state institutions provided them with the legal protection, psychological assistance and rehabilitation services needed to help them rebuild their lives with dignity.

Significant decline in smuggling

Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said human smuggling to Europe had declined by 47% over the past year.

He attributed the decrease to the government's effective strategy and enhanced cooperation with European countries.

"European Union had acknowledged the Ministry of Interior's efforts in combating human smuggling" he said in a statement while also adding that the government was implementing a zero-tolerance policy against human smuggling and illegal migration.

"Human smuggling is a serious transnational crime and a grave violation of human rights. Those involved in exploiting innocent lives deserve no leniency," he said.

Pakistan remains fully committed to global efforts to eliminate human smuggling and public awareness is essential to preventing the crime, he added.