ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU), are hosting a two-day regional conference in Islamabad to address the challenges of migrant smuggling.
Migrant smuggling is a lucrative yet low-risk crime perpetrated by organized, multinational networks. International cooperation is essential to combat this crime effectively.
Addressing the conference, Syrus Sajjad Qazi, the Foreign Secretary, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in combating migrant smuggling. “The international community needs a comprehensive approach to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration while addressing the negative impacts of irregular migration, ” he said.
Jeremy Milsom, UNODC Representative in Pakistan, highlighted recent incidents, such as the capsizing of a trawler off southern Greece in June 2023, as urgent reminders of the need for increased collaboration among nations to tackle migrant smuggling.
The conference, held as part of the PROTECT project funded by the EU, will explore mechanisms to improve information-sharing between countries and prioritize victim-centered approaches to combat migrant smuggling.
Philipp Gross, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Pakistan, underscored the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by human trafficking and migrant smuggling, emphasizing the critical role of cooperation mechanisms along migration routes.
Participants will discuss common challenges, best practices in border security and investigations, and the establishment of a regional task force.
Jeremy Milsom emphasized the significance of the EU’s support in combating migrant smuggling, stating, “It shouldn’t take tragedies to bring us all together.”
The conference, held under the UNODC Country Programme III of Pakistan (2022-2025), aims to strengthen international cooperation in combating migrant smuggling.
