Islamabad, July 30, 2026: Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling as government institutions, United Nations agencies, international organisations and civil society representatives marked the World Day against Trafficking in Persons with a renewed pledge to strengthen prevention, prosecution and victim protection.
Observed annually on July 30, this year’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons is being commemorated under the theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” highlighting the growing threat of trafficking for forced criminality, including online scam operations and other cyber-enabled crimes carried out by organised criminal networks.
A joint event in Islamabad was organised by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and the International Returns and Reintegration Assistance (IRARA).
The ceremony brought together representatives from federal ministries, law enforcement agencies, criminal justice institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and the diplomatic community to discuss coordinated efforts against trafficking in persons.
Speakers stressed the need for stronger criminal justice responses, enhanced prevention strategies and comprehensive protection, assistance and reintegration support for victims of trafficking.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and the Federal Investigation Agency highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen migration governance while combating trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants through safe, orderly and regular migration pathways.
Participants were briefed on key national initiatives, including the National Emigration and Welfare Policy, as well as Pakistan’s first five-year National Action Plan to Counter Trafficking in Persons (2026–2030) and National Action Plan to Counter Smuggling of Migrants (2026–2030), developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control.
The FIA reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling criminal networks involved in trafficking by strengthening digital and financial investigations and targeting facilitators, organisers and financiers responsible for trafficking and cyber-enabled criminal activities.
The event also featured an expert panel discussion titled “Trafficking for Forced Criminality in the Digital Age,” where law enforcement officials, legal experts, protection specialists and civil society representatives examined the growing links between human trafficking and cybercrime and explored strategies to counter emerging threats.
The commemoration concluded with stakeholders reaffirming a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to preventing trafficking in persons, emphasising victim identification, protection, reintegration and the application of the non-punishment principle while strengthening Pakistan’s response to evolving forms of transnational organised crime.
