PESHAWAR, Aug 31: Experts here have called upon the authorities to put in place stringent laws to curb the menace of human trafficking in the country.

Barrister Zahoorul Haq expressed surprise over the delay in formulation and enforcement of legislation regarding human trafficking and urged the government to make the existing law stricter.

Speaking at a two-day workshop at the Qazi Jamil Institute of Legal Studies on Thursday, he said the piece of legislation for curbing human trafficking happened to be similar to some provisions of the law dealing with illegal immigrants.

According to him, the Prevention of Human Trafficking Ordinance 2002 carried a rather light punishment for the perpetrators of the crime. That is why it failed to deter people.

Qazi Jamil advocate said human trafficking was one of the oldest illegal professions that had no place in the modern age and had been banned globally.

He said human trafficking had been prohibited as it was against the fundamental spirits of basic human rights enshrined in the Constitution.

He said the event had been organised to discuss the problem of human trafficking and make suggestions for coping with it.

Surayya Jabeen, a government prosecutor, and Salahuddin Khan, deputy attorney-general of Pakistan, also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Khan said the need for evolving a coherent strategy by the stakeholders, including judges and investigators, was being increasingly felt, and added that sensitisation of the society could prove beneficial in efforts to stem the tide of illegal selling and buying of people.