HUMAN trafficking in the country is on the rise again, which is reflected in the fact that in the month of October alone, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested 109 human traffickers in the Gujranwala region. As many as 206 cases of human trafficking were reportedly lodged, and challans of 119 cases were presented to various courts during this period.

According to the `2024 Trafficking in Persons Report` by the American State Department, the Pakistani government failed to meet minimum standards in several key areas. Unfortunately, these shortcomings included the inability to effectively investigate, prosecute and convict human traffickers, as well as inadequate enforcement of existing laws. The 2018 Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, despite amendments, continues to allow the imposition of fines in lieu of imprisonment, further weakening its deterrent effect.

In 2023, a total of 1,588 trafficking cases had been reported, out of which 1,432 were prosecuted. However, only 351 subsequently resulted in convictions.

Among these prosecutions, 231 involved sex trafficking, yet only four convictions were secured. Meanwhile, 108 cases pertained to other forms of trafficking, with only 10 convictions. The remaining 1,093 cases involved forced labour trafficking, resulting in 337 convictions. This is a minuscule number, given the scale of the problem.

Corruption as well as official complicity remain significant obstacles to combatting the menace of human trafficking. The State Department document also noted that the government did not report any investigation, prosecution or conviction of government employees complicit in human trafficking crimes.

As such, many traffickers continue their operations by bribing officials or exploiting loopholes in the legal system to avoid punishment. The culprits activelyuse social media platforms, as can be seen in the accompanying image, to promote their illegal activities and maximise profits.

Human trafficking networks across the country are complex as well as deeply entrenched, often with ties to international crime syndicates. These networks smuggle individuals across international borders, particularly to the Gulf states and Europe, where victims are forced into labour or prostitution.

In recent years, several harrowing cases have emerged where groups of migrants were abandoned or subjected to brutal treatment by traffickers in foreign countries, many of whom faced life-threatening situations.

To tackle human trafficking timely and effectively, the government must take a more proactive and result-oriented approach. Besides, strengthening the legal framework, and ensuring full-scale implementation of the laws are critical.

Thisincludes providingspecialised training to law-enforcement personnel to identify, disrupt, and dismantle trafficking networks. Additionally, the government needs to establish a robust system for the protection and rehabilitation of trafficking victims. This will also be an important step.

Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui Islamabad