ON the International Day against Transnational Organised Crime, observed today, Pakistan finds itself in a tight spot. Socioeconomic and climate challenges, porous borders and poor institutional scrutiny have made the country a supplier and a transit centre for organised crime activities. The inability to lower factors fuelling the menace continues to be a serious indictment of the state’s policies and crime control measures. The Global Organised Crime Index 2025 placed Pakistan on the 45th position out of 193 countries; it was on ‘Tier 2’ of the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report by the US State Department. In this setting, where criminal syndicates impede justice and economic progress, this year’s theme, “Follow the money. Stop organised fraud”, puts the focus on the need for a multi-layered approach.

Deepening poverty and climate disasters offer opportunities for criminal networks to exploit vulnerable individuals. As financial commodities, fake tech supplies and Ponzi schemes proliferate, unsuspecting citizens and authentic technology enterprises become increasingly vulnerable. Consequently, surging incidents of identity theft, impersonation, caller ID spoofing, and more, show that cybercrime is another significant threat. Alongside these, fraud, money laundering, and corruption facilitate the accumulation of illegal fortunes, create economic disruption and erode institutional integrity, serving as primary enablers of organised crime. Pakistan needs a drastic overhaul that, based on the practices and procedures mentioned in global conventions, dismantles the culture of impunity as well as holds offenders and their promoters to account. For cohesive crime databases, arrest and conviction numbers along with transnational links must remain consistent. Departments, such as the FIA, should be enabled to tackle influential quarters, choke root causes and ensure equal access to justice. Organised crime operators — from scam centres, human traffickers to money launderers — must be dealt with across the board.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026