Islamabad:Continued commitment and collaboration among all stakeholders, including the government, law enforcement, non-governmental organisations, and the international community was stressed at the grant closing and lesson learning ceremony organised by Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), in collaboration with the US Embassy in Pakistan.

The event marked the conclusion of a key initiative aimed at combating human trafficking in Pakistan. The event brought together US Embassy officials, diplomats, UN agencies, government representatives, law enforcement officials, civil society organisations , parliamentarians and key stakeholders to reflect on the progress achieved and discuss the way forward in addressing this grave human rights violation.

In his key note address, Natalie Baker, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Pakistan, emphasized the importance of sustained global and local cooperation to eradicate human trafficking. “We must remain steadfast in our efforts and continue working together to end human trafficking, ensuring the safety and dignity of all individuals,” Baker stated.

Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of SSDO, spoke about the growing threat of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), noting how organized mafias exploit vulnerable communities for forced labor, commercial sex, drug trafficking, and money laundering. He praised the proactive efforts of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), police and parliament in addressing human trafficking. Abbas stressed the importance of raising awareness, strengthening laws, and providing victim support. He also highlighted recent progress, including the establishment of a special committee in Punjab for better legislative oversight on TIP.

In his address, Jan Muhammad, Additional Director General of the FIA Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Unit, underscored the critical nature of addressing TIP as a form of human rights exploitation. Muhammad emphasised the strong partnership between the FIA and SSDO, stating that their joint efforts have been instrumental in raising awareness, improving victim support mechanisms, and enhancing the capacity of law enforcement to tackle TIP cases. “It is our duty to combat this exploitation of human rights, and the collaborative efforts of FIA and SSDO are essential in ending this crime,” he said.

The event concluded with remarks from Chad Twitty, Director of Public Engagement for the US Embassy who acknowledged the ongoing challenges Pakistan faces in the fight against human trafficking, stating that while progress has been made, much work remains to be done.

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