ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has criticized the government for its failure to control the increasing number of human smuggling cases from Pakistan, to various countries abroad.

The ICCI president, Nasir Khan, in a statement issued on Friday demanded appropriate measures to stop the practice and ensure that people were sent through proper channels only.

He also urged the government to establish foreign employment cells, in all provinces, to facilitate both skilled and unskilled workers who are interested in earning livelihood abroad.

Mr Khan said the FIA should take strict steps to check human smuggling to the UAE, European and various other countries.

He blamed unemployment and poverty as the major factors that compelled people to use illegal ways to reach other countries for jobs.