WHILE the wounds of the MoroccoMauritania boat tragedy are still fresh, another disaster struck earlier this month (Feb 10) off the coast in Libya, where a boat carrying 65 migrants, including at least 16 Pakistanis, sank, leaving no survivors. Despite frequent such tragedies, human trafficking in Pakistan has surged in recent years, with corrupt officials often shielding the traffickers. Even though over 35 officials have been dismissed for alleged collusion recently, signalling a shift, far more needs to be done.

Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and false promises of better lives abroad make many Pakistanis easy prey for the traffickers. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that 1.5 million people in Pakistan are vulnerable to trafficking, with thousands already trapped in forced labour or exploitation.

Migrants often embark on perilous journeys through illegal channels, using fake documents, only to be abandoned or subjected to brutal treatment abroad.

In a country where the minimum wage is a meagre Rs37,000 per month and people struggle under high inflation and skyrocketing utility costs, parliamentarians have raised their salaries from Rs180,000 to Rs519,000 per month, along with extensive perks. Meanwhile, a government department is purchasing over a thousand new luxury cars at a cost of Rs6 billion.

For many ordinary Pakistanis, leaving the country, by any means necessary, seems like the only viable option. The government and the opposition alike remain silent on the real issues. Untilthe fundamental challenges are addressed, the cycle of desperation and migration both legal and illegal will continue, and so will the tragedies that accompany it.

Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui Islamabad