Can Pakistan Curb Trafficking with UN-backed Migration Governance?

News Desk

Islamabad: The United Nations in Pakistan, with support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has launched the Pakistan United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) to enhance migration governance, curb human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and align national efforts with global frameworks.

The high-level launch ceremony in Islamabad was hosted by UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya, who also unveiled Pakistan’s first Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MMPTF) programme, “Strengthening Response to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Pakistan.” The initiative is jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, civil society, media, and the private sector.

The MMPTF, the only pooled funding mechanism dedicated to migration, supports implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). In Pakistan, it will build national capacity for migration management while advancing a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to tackling TIP and SOM.

As coordinator and secretariat of the UN Network on Migration, IOM will work closely with the UN Resident Coordinator as Chair. The network is expected to strengthen partnerships across the UN system, foster policy coherence, and integrate migration priorities into broader national development strategies.

“The establishment of this network is a testament to our collective resolve to ensure that migration is safe, orderly, and regular,” said Mohamed Yahya. He stressed that the platform would help shift narratives on migration, amplify a unified voice, and foster innovation in addressing mobility challenges while protecting migrants’ rights.

The event also featured a video message from Jonathan Prentice, Head of the UN Migration Network Secretariat, who commended Pakistan’s leadership in advancing global migration governance. A testimony from Moazzam Ali, a Pakistani migrant who returned voluntarily from Romania with IOM’s support, underscored the importance of safe migration pathways and reintegration opportunities.

A panel discussion on “Enhancing Whole-of-Government Migration Governance in the Age of Complex Mobility Dynamics and Emerging Global Challenges” brought together government representatives, rights institutions, academia, civil society, and international experts. The session was moderated by Dr. Nasra M. Shah, Professor of Migration and Development at the Lahore School of Economics.

The launch concluded with a reaffirmation of Pakistan and the UN’s commitment to strengthening migration governance through multi-stakeholder partnerships for a safer, more sustainable future.