“There is a general disillusionment among the people about the future of the country and the grass being greener on the other side. Such misconceptions make them willing to invest all their savings, fall into debt, and risk their lives to escape the country.”

Millions of people have endured untold miseries through two interconnected issues which have plagued the world for years, human trafficking and migrant smuggling. The loss of 298 Pakistani lives due to an overcrowded migrant boat being capsized off Greece’s coast happens to be the third major incident related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Pakistan this year. Before this incident, another overcrowded boat carrying around 25 Pakistanis sunk into rough seas while trying to land in Crotone, southern Italy in March. European Union’s border and coast guard agency Frontex provided data stating that nearly 5,000 Pakistanis were detected on the central Mediterranean route into Europe in the first half of 2023.

These people are among the thousands of others fleeing an economic crisis that has left them hopeless. The tragedies related to human trafficking and human smuggling seem to be increasing recently, becoming national and transnational issues which can no longer be overlooked. Each year, thousands of young Pakistanis without proper documentation, embark on journeys filled with uncertainties and dangers just to reach their destination country in search of a better and safer life.

“The problem of human trafficking and trade in Pakistan is multidimensional and makes one wonder whether the state has failed the people of its nation or does the fault lie with other factors”

Albeit human trafficking and migrant smuggling are interconnected, they are not the same. In Layman’s terms, recruitment, transportation, receipt, or harboring of an individual against their will is known as human trafficking. Victims are chosen by employing threat, coercion, force, abduction, deception, fraud, or a position of vulnerability to achieve their consent for exploitation. Migrant smuggling, on the other hand, is the act of moving people across borders illegally with the consent of a person.

Around 3.19 million people in Pakistan are living in modern slavery (Global Slavery Index). As per the report of The United States Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons 2021, Pakistan hardly meets the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking despite significant efforts made by the government. Forced labor, debt bondage, involuntary domestic servitude, organ trafficking, child soldiers, sex trafficking, and prostitution all come under the umbrella of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Another form of trafficking involves luring young girls and women into false nuptial arrangements only to be thrown into prostitution once they move to another country with their fictitious husbands.

“The depreciation of the already weak Pakistani rupee against other currencies is also a huge factor as to why the youth of the country has become so desperate to migrate overseas. The law-and-order situation has also weakened due to political instability, making the work of traffickers and smugglers easier.”

Lately, there has been a tremendous increase in people fleeing the country. The majority of the faction does not possess the means to leave the country following legal procedures and so, they resort to shortcuts through illegal means which makes the human trafficking and smuggling business lucrative. The problem of human trafficking and trade in Pakistan is multidimensional and makes one wonder whether the state has failed the people of its nation or does the fault lie with other factors. Human trafficking and smuggling are societal issues which need to be addressed on various fronts. These illegal practices thrive so much due to the labor market, political instability, weak law and order situation, and the ongoing economic crisis.

Each year, 1.1 million people are added to the labor market but are not able to acquire jobs. Due to the rising inflation, people are forced to live hand to mouth. The depreciation of the already weak Pakistani rupee against other currencies is also a huge factor as to why the youth of the country has become so desperate to migrate overseas. This deplorable situation is further exacerbated by the ongoing political instability which has thrown people into destitute and utter despair. The law-and-order situation has also weakened due to political instability, making the work of traffickers and smugglers easier. Extreme poverty, illiteracy, and a lack of awareness about the dangers of human trafficking make people vulnerable to being exploited by human traffickers and smugglers.

The majority of human trafficking comprises bonded labor in Pakistan. People struggling to get by become desperate to pay off their debts and are coerced into bonded labor. The youth living below the poverty line is the most susceptible to human trafficking and smuggling. As there is no awareness or education about the perils of the trafficking and smuggling business, people are either forced, deceived, or brainwashed to fall into the exploitative hands of traffickers and smugglers.

“Hundreds of victims are being abused and trafficked right in front of our eyes and we don’t even realize it. Awareness among the public needs to increase through media channels, national campaigns especially across rural areas, and discussions in educational institutes.”

The victims of human trafficking are not limited to the male population, women and children are greatly sought after as well. Certain radical groups kidnap children and train them for anti-state terrorist activities. Often, trafficked men also get sent to conflict-ridden areas where they are forced into militancy. Women are trafficked to run illegal sex industries.

Psychological factors play a big part in human trafficking and smuggling. The emotional and physical traumas faced by the victims make them vulnerable to being further abused by traffickers and smugglers. The imprisonment of thousands of Pakistanis charged with violations of immigration laws is also a serious concern for the country.

There is a general disillusionment among the people about the future of the country and the grass being greener on the other side. Such misconceptions make them willing to invest all their savings, fall into debt, and risk their lives to escape the country. The dreams of living a better life are exploited by traffickers and smugglers, so millions of people go through the unspeakable horrors of being abused and forced to live as slaves.

Pakistan has adopted measures to tackle the menace of human trafficking and smuggling to a moderate extent. FIA deals with migrant issues and external human trafficking while internal trafficking is dealt with by provincial departments. Efforts to curb human trafficking and smuggling have been made by the state such as the development of a Strategic National Action Plan (2021-2025), improved rules for migration, coordination with police and concerned stakeholders, Victim Reception and Facilitation Centre (VRFC) in Taftan, and a 24/7 helpline to facilitate trafficked victims.

Despite these measures, there is a dire need of sensitizing the masses to these issues. Problems such as illegal migration and human trafficking that haunt society need to be addressed from a grassroot level. Awareness among the public needs to increase through media channels, national campaigns especially across rural areas, and discussions in educational institutes. Spreading awareness through educational campaigns can help people understand how truly dangerous human trafficking and illegal migration actually are. Facilitation of discussions around these topics can also prevent people from becoming victims.

Furthermore, mental health and social support are also necessary and should be provided to the victims of such atrocities. Such steps can only be successfully taken if the community and the state collaborate with the regional and global actors to collectively work and preserve human respect and dignity. Hundreds of victims are being abused and trafficked right in front of our eyes and we don’t even realize it. There is an urgent need to address this upgraded version of slavery which has violated basic human rights and destroyed countless lives in our country.

*This Blog Post is written by Saaremeen Fatima Sayyami. She is an Intern at Accountability Lab Pakistan.