ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri on Wednesday informed the Senate that the foreign ministry had identified the major human smugglers in periodic reports sent to the interior ministry.

In response to supplementary questions by Senator Enver Baig, Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro asked the foreign minister to place before the house the reports, which had been sent to the interior ministry.

When Senator Baig asked if any of the human smugglers identified in the reports of the foreign ministry had been arrested or the government had taken any action against them, Mr Kasuri said the interior ministry would be in a better position to dilate on the issue.

Senator Sanaullah Baloch said the government should inform the house how human smuggling was taking place from Balochistan where more than 500 checkposts had been established by the coast guards.

The minister told the house that more than 24,000 illegal Pakistani immigrants had been deported from Muscat, UAE and other Arab countries during 2004. The minister also informed the house that some 2700 Pakistanis were detained in the Arab countries. The largest number is in Saudi Arabia, followed by those in Oman, UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, he added.

In reply to another question, Mr Kasuri said 239 Pakistanis were also imprisoned in Turkey and Iran. He said all efforts were being made for the release of Pakistanis in accordance with the law.