Govt tightens laws to combat human trafficking, illegal migration

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to take strict measures to combat human trafficking by proposing an amendment to the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018, in the Senate.

The bill was presented by the Ministry of Interior on Thursday which proposes severe penalties for those involved in human trafficking and migrant smuggling. 

Under the bill, anyone caught smuggling migrants will face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rs10 million. Those who forge documents for smuggling will face a similar 10-year sentence and a Rs5 million fine. Providing shelter to undocumented migrants will be punishable by five years in prison and a Rs2 million fine. 

If a smuggled person dies, is injured, or subjected to inhumane treatment, the smuggler will face up to 14 years in prison and a Rs10 million fine. 

The bill also proposes the establishment of special courts to expedite trials related to human smuggling. 

This development follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent removal of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir over delays in investigations into boat accidents involving Pakistani migrants. 

Earlier, 38 FIA personnel were dismissed for their involvement in migrant smuggling cases. Moreover, above 60 officials of the agency were found involved in human trafficking, according to a report submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on human smuggling networks.

The inquiry has raised serious questions about the role of FIA immigration officials deputed at different exit points across various cities.

The inquiry report has revealed that 155 of the passengers who lost their lives in Greek had departed from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport.

Two days ago, an inspector, two sub-inspectors, two head constables, and eight constables were also sacked. 

These moves come after two tragic incidents involving Pakistani migrants. On December 16, a boat capsized near Greece’s Gavdos island, resulting in the deaths of 40 Pakistani nationals.

More recently, on January 16, 2025, a boat attempting to illegally reach Spain via West Africa sank, killing 50 people, including 44 Pakistanis. 

Moroccan authorities had rescued 36 people from the boat that had left Mauritania on Jan 2 with 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, on board, migrant rights group Walking Borders said.

Forty-four of those presumed to have drowned were from Pakistan, CEO of the group Helena Maleno had said on X.