Lahore: The first meeting of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling was convened at the Punjab Assembly chaired by MPA Uzma Kardar. The session was attended by key stakeholders, including administrative secretaries,the Additional Inspector General of Police, Deputy Commissioners, District Police Officers from high-risk districts, representatives from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), civil society groups and foreign delegates.
The meeting addressed the critical issue of human trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) , which continues to devastate communities in Punjab and beyond. MPA Uzma Kardar who is the convener of the committee, emphasized the gravity of the situation noting the loss of hundreds of Pakistani lives in recent tragedies involving irregular cross-border smuggling to Greece and Spain. She highlighted that internal trafficking, which exploits individuals through bonded labor and forced commercial sex work, remains a significant problem that tarnishes Pakistan's international reputation. She said that the Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has introduced several programs for youth and women in Punjab to create local opportunities through empowerment of young people.
"The government of Pakistan is committed to tackling trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) both within the country and across borders. The government has made national action plan to curb trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants within and outside the country. However, to effectively address this issue, a unified and robust approach is essential," said MPA Uzma Kardar.
She also acknowledged the support of civil society organizations like the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) whose advocacy efforts contributed to the establishment of the committee and have been instrumental in raising awareness on the issue. In her address, Kardar extended her gratitude to Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan and Secretary Amir Habib for prioritizing the issue and for their cooperation in launching the special committee.
During the meeting, the committee called for urgent action. MPA Uzma Kardar directed that every district establish a dedicated Anti-Human Trafficking Cell within the police department by February 28, 2025 and submit report to the committee secretary. These cells will be responsible for monitoring and addressing trafficking issues within their respective jurisdictions. Additionally, Deputy Commissioners were urged to revitalize district-level anti-trafficking committees with a requirement for monthly meetings to be conducted and their outcomes shared with the committee's secretary. The committee will be meeting on regular basis in every month to track the performance of the administrative departments on TIP and SOM. This time we focused on the hotspot districts but next time we shall invite all the districts of Punjab.
The committee also proposed that Deputy Commissioners from Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin , Sialkot, Jhelum and Gujranwala compile and submit a database of victimized families within the next week. A visit to these effected families is scheduled for the first week of February 2025.
Syed Kausar Abbas Executive Director of the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) praised the formation of the committee, describing it as a crucial step toward strengthening legislative oversight on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM). He noted that the committee's work would help ensure accountability at the local level and drive the implementation of laws designed to combat these crimes.
In addition to discussions on trafficking, MPA Adnan Afzal Chatha Chairperson of the Chief Minister's Task Force on Skill Development highlighted the government's efforts to empower youth and women through skill development programs. He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif the Punjab government has launched multiple initiatives, including offering interest-free loans to young entrepreneurs. Chatha stressed the importance of engaging youth in productive skills and entrepreneurship to prevent them from falling prey to trafficking and exploitation.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continued collaboration among governmental bodies, civil society and international partners to combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Punjab.