PM establishes task force to tackle human trafficking networks

• PM expresses grief over deaths of Pakistanis in boat tragedies. 
• We will bring perpetrators of human trafficking to justice: PM
• Premier directs authorities to identify human trafficking groups.
  

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has formed a special task force — which he will lead personally — to combat human trafficking syndicates operating in Pakistan amid a recent surge in the incidents of migrant boat tragedies. 

"We will bring the perpetrators involved in human trafficking to justice," the prime minister said while chairing a review meeting regarding steps to curb human trafficking in the country on Friday. 

Stressing to speed up the pace of arrests of those involved in human trafficking, the prime minister directed all the relevant departments including the foreign ministry to play their active role in identifying the human smugglers.

The prime minister said that the entire nation, including himself was deeply saddened by the heartbreaking deaths of Pakistanis in the boat of illegal immigrants.

During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on the groups involved in the deaths of Pakistanis in the illegal immigrant boat incident, arrests made by various institutions in Pakistan, FIRs filed, and the future course of action.

The meeting was informed that six organised human trafficking groups had been identified, 12 FIRs filed, 25 individuals identified, three key suspects arrested, and the names of 16 individuals had been added to the passport control list.

The meeting was also briefed on the seizure of vehicles, bank accounts, and assets. It was also updated on the actions taken against suspected FIA personnel and officers.

Moreover, it was also informed about the report from the overseas investigative committee.

The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to identify the human trafficking groups and hand them exemplary punishments. 

The move comes in the wake of a boat carrying migrants, which included 66 Pakistanis, capsized off Moroccan coast, killing at least 50 people.

The ill-fated boat departed from Mauritania on January 2 with 86 migrants on board. Moroccan authorities reported that 66 of the passengers were Pakistani nationals and noted that it had rescued 36 people after the accident.

Human trafficking and migrant boat tragedies have become alarmingly frequent, claiming the lives of many Pakistanis in recent months. At least 80 Pakistanis lost their lives when boats carrying them capsized near Greece on the night of December 13-14, 2024.

One of the deadliest incidents, however, remains the Greek boat tragedy, where a fishing trawler crammed with migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off Greece, killing hundreds, including 262 Pakistanis, in 2023.