Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed all relevant institutions to take decisive action against human traffickers, emphasizing the need for stringent legal measures to combat the issue.

According to a statement by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting in Islamabad to assess efforts against human trafficking. He urged the Federal Investigation Agency to address manpower shortages and enhance the screening processes at airports to prevent illegal travel.

The Prime Minister also instructed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to launch an awareness campaign about the dangers of illegal foreign travel and human smuggling. Additionally, he advocated for seeking assistance from Interpol to extradite high-profile human smugglers.

During the briefing, it was reported to the Prime Minister that several arrests of human traffickers have been made from June 2023 to December 2024. Furthermore, numerous government officials have been dismissed or are facing disciplinary action for their involvement in facilitating these crimes.

To strengthen the legal response, special prosecutors have been appointed to ensure the prosecution of human traffickers.