LAHORE, Oct 24: The first “red book” of the country containing the record of most wanted human smugglers and terrorists will be completed by the end of this year, it is learnt.

Official sources told Dawn on Monday that the Federal Investigation Agency’s special investigation group (SIG) had been assigned the task. The SIG has primarily been established to fight terrorism.

They said the SIG would launch an operation against them after maintaining the record. The agency’s anti-trafficking unit, the passport cell and the immigration wing would assist it in nabbing top human smugglers.

The sources said at present all provinces had maintained a record of the most wanted terrorists which was yet to be centralized.

They said the agency was gathering information about the top human smugglers from the deported persons especially from Oman, Iran, Turkey, Italy and the US. It is learnt that the governments of Oman, Turkey and Iran have asked Pakistan to take strict measures to control human smuggling.

According to some reports, about 30,000 Pakistanis have been deported from Oman on different charges since 2001. Besides, over 1,000 Pakistanis are languishing in different prisons of Muscat awaiting trials for an illegal entry into the country.

Several Pakistanis belonging to poor families have reportedly lost their lives while attempting to reach Oman to earn better livelihood. Similarly, scores of Pakistanis continue to cross the Iran border every week in a bid to reach Turkey, Greece or Italy.

The sources said most of the human smugglers in Punjab were operating in Gujrat, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, Malikwal, Faisalabad and adjacent areas.

They said the interior ministry was contemplating to award a handsome amount to the people who would provide information leading to the arrest of the most wanted human smugglers on the pattern of head money on terrorists.

To maintain the record of the most wanted terrorists, the SIG would collaborate with the central investigation department and other law enforcement agencies.

A senior officer told this reporter that the SIG had been strengthened in this regard. A technical wing was being established with a staff of 50 besides recruiting more staff in the intelligence wing and transport facilities.