December 2, 2003	Tuesday	Shawwal 7, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: The country needs international assistance for controlling poverty, which is the real cause of human trafficking and illegal migration.

This was stated by the Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat during a meeting with the director-general of International Organization for Migration (IOM), Brunson Mcklinley, here on Monday.

Mr Hayat told the delegation about various steps taken by the government to control human smuggling, the issuance of Computerised National Identity Cards, Automated Finger Prints Identification System, PISCES and the upcoming Machine Readable Passports Project.

He also highlighted the aspects of Control and Prevention of Human Trafficking Ordinance-2002 under which cases had been registered against 215 agents involved in this crime.

The minister said 121 people had been arrested during a 10- day crackdown throughout the country last month . Mr Hayat requested the delegates to bring into the knowledge of the developed world about the problems being faced by Pakistan in controlling the illegal human trafficking.

“Because of poor economic conditions here, people risk their savings and even their lives to go abroad by any means,” he said.

“The developed world should find ways to facilitate the migration of the deserving lot through legal means otherwise our job would remain difficult,” he maintained.

Pakistan appreciates the contribution of the IOM rendered in capacity building projects, the minister said adding that the organization should play more effective role in securing employment for Pakistani labour in the developed countries.

The member of the delegation included Anne-Marie Bushman- Petit, the special advisor to the DIG, and Hassan Abdel Monein Mostafa, the senior regional advisor for the Middle East/South West Asia, Egypt/Sudan and special envoy to the Gulf States.