WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for decisive measures against human trafficking, stressing that it tarnishes Pakistan’s international reputation. He also demanded a detailed report on cases involving Pakistani citizens over the past year.
Presiding over a meeting on the recent deaths of Pakistanis in a tragic boat capsizing near Greece, the prime minister expressed deep concern over the repeated nature of such incidents and criticized the lack of effective action against traffickers. “The recurrence of such incidents is due to sluggish actions against the people involved,” he stated, recalling a similar tragedy last year in which 262 Pakistanis lost their lives.
Sharif directed the immediate implementation of the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to enhance the monitoring of international travel and curb human trafficking.
During the briefing, officials reported that 174 suspects had been brought to court this year, resulting in four convictions. The prime minister demanded updates on the ongoing public awareness campaign against trafficking and instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a comprehensive report.
Sharif also emphasized the need for stronger collaboration with international organizations to prevent such tragedies and called for stricter penalties for offenders.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Syed Mohsin Naqvi, Ahad Cheema, and Attaullah Tarar, along with Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and senior officials.
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