ICMPD commemorated the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Pakistan, joining national institutions, UN and international organisations, civil society, and the diplomatic community in committing to a victim-centred, whole-of-route response to the evolving forms of human trafficking.
Under this year’s theme, “Trapped Behind the Scam,” this year’s theme drew attention to the growing threat of trafficking for forced criminality, including online scam operations and other cyber-enabled crimes. The joint commemoration was organised by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, UNODC, IOM, UNHCR, ILO, SSDO, ICMPD and IRARA, bringing together representatives from federal ministries, law enforcement and criminal justice institutions, development partners, and civil society.
“Victims may be deceived through false job offers, fraudulent recruitment channels or misleading online promises, before being exploited and forced to commit crimes for the profit of organised criminal networks. Therefore, this is a day to remember the victims and survivors of trafficking — and to renew our collective responsibility to prevent exploitation, protect those affected, and bring traffickers to justice,” said Saad Ur Rehman Khan, ICMPD Project Manager for the Migrant Resource Centres in Pakistan.
At the event, partners reaffirmed the importance of coordinated action to strengthen criminal justice responses, advance prevention, and ensure victim-centred protection, assistance, and reintegration. Discussions also highlighted the importance of identifying victims of trafficking, applying the non-punishment principle for those forced into criminality, and strengthening protection-sensitive responses across institutions.
Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its response to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants were also highlighted, including the recently launched National Emigration and Welfare Policy 2026 and the first dedicated five-year National Action Plans to Counter Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants 2026–2030.
Mr Khan underlined the need for a whole-of-route and whole-of-society approach, connecting prevention before departure, protection-sensitive border management, victim identification and referral, criminal justice cooperation, safe return, and dignified reintegration.
“Prevention must begin much earlier. We must address the conditions traffickers exploit: economic insecurity, limited access to decent opportunities, skills mismatches, misinformation, and the absence of trusted advice. This means expanding legal labour migration pathways, developing skills that match real demand, enforcing ethical recruitment standards, and helping people verify employers, recruiters, contracts, visas and job advertisements before they pay or travel,” he said.
Through its cooperation with FIA, MOPHRD and other national counterparts, as well as its work through the Migrant Resource Centres in Pakistan, ICMPD remains committed to supporting safe, orderly and regular migration, strengthening institutional capacities, and ensuring that prospective migrants and their families have access to reliable information before they fall into the hands of traffickers, fraudulent recruiters or criminal networks.
“Our experience has taught us that trafficking cannot be addressed by one institution, one country, or at only one point on the migration route. Responding to these increasingly complex forms of trafficking requires coordinated action across institutions, sectors and countries,” Mr Khan added.
