Business of human trafficking on the rise: report

Amin Ahmed Published February 20, 2015

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Thursday that criminal networks operating in Pakistan generated about $927 million through human trafficking and migrant smuggling in 2013.

The UNODC released a report, titled “Socio-Economic Impact of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling”, and quoting the interior ministry said that over 1,000 criminal networks in the country were involved in the illegal trade.

Introducing the report, UNODC representative Cesar Guedes said that political instability in South Asia and the Middle East was providing opportunities to such networks to expand their “business”.

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Data presented in the report indicate a constant increase in the profits of the criminal networks — from $797m in 2007 to $927m in 2013.

According to the report, human trafficking and migrant smuggling have generally registered an increase from 2007 to 2013 in Pakistan.

The report adds that existence of established smuggling routes can be linked to increased terrorism because the routes can be used to move illegal drugs and members of extremist organisations with a legal footprint.

The research carried out by UNODC has found that a bulk of ‘illegal migration’ is occurring from Punjab province, particularly from Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Sialkot.

Numbers recently provided by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) show that the highest interceptions of potential victims of human trafficking and migrant smuggling at Pakistani borders are being reported in the port of Gwadar followed by Quetta and Turbat, the report says.

It has previously been observed that the largest number of deportees who come through the sea route arrive from Oman and those coming by air from Spain and Turkey.

The cities with highest numbers of interceptions in the country are Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Peshawar.

According to the FIA, the major routes used for human trafficking and migrant smuggling are: Pakistan to United Arab Emirates via Iran and Oman; Pakistan to Greece via Iran and Turkey; and Pakistan to Spain via Middle Eastern and West African countries.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2015

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Pakistan

Amin Ahmed is an Islamabad-based correspondent for Dawn with nearly two decades of experience in the field. He reports on socio-economic development, agriculture, and privatisation, as well as parliamentary committees.

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Cyrus Ho

Feb 20, 2015 07:09am

I wondered how all these people in Pakistan were making a living. They must be the same ones who want an alliance with Central Asia.

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Traveller

Feb 20, 2015 08:02am

Come on kids let's point finger towards India ...

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Keti Zilgish

Feb 20, 2015 09:38am

Human trafficking is entirely the result of the institution of wage-slavery to legitimize which industrialization with all its suicidal environmental consequences was ushered in. Patriarchy itself was introduced in order to legitimize the human trafficking commonly passed off as marriage. The exploitation and discipline of children and infants are also helpful in preparing them for a future of wage-slavery.

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Ghulam Nabi malik

Feb 20, 2015 10:37am

Now a days norms of society is changed completely, populations control department is failure, a lady gives birth more children especially male child, just to export to foreign lands, as a investment, no body is interested for Education, learn artisan jobs, accumulate money, give to agents and in return, agents- human trafficker earn much, if man is set earn more, both enjoy and take more risks. business continue.

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Riaz

Feb 20, 2015 04:34pm

@Traveller No need Sir, the Indians would know in due course about the Indian government sponsored dramas like the fabricated Mumbai attacks and Indian Parliament attacks. The news about 4 supermen (Fishermen) invasion of India by a small boat and revelation of the true story by your own officer is just the beginning.

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