Pakistan Steps Up Anti-Trafficking Drive

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan has launched a new United Nations-backed migration network aimed at improving the country’s ability to manage complex migration challenges, combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and promote safer migration pathways.

The Pakistan United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) was launched in Islamabad by the United Nations in Pakistan with support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The initiative seeks to bring together government institutions, UN agencies, civil society, academia, media and the private sector to develop a more coordinated approach to migration governance and align Pakistan’s policies with international frameworks.

UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya hosted the launch ceremony and also unveiled Pakistan’s first Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MMPTF) programme, titled “Strengthening Response to Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Pakistan.”

The programme is being jointly implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in cooperation with the Government of Pakistan and other national stakeholders.

The initiative comes as migration has become increasingly complex, with countries facing challenges ranging from irregular migration and migrant smuggling to trafficking and the need to ensure effective reintegration for returning migrants.

Building a coordinated response

The MMPTF is the UN’s pooled funding mechanism dedicated specifically to migration and supports implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

In Pakistan, the programme will focus on strengthening national capacity for migration management and promoting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to preventing trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling.

The newly established UN Network on Migration is expected to provide a platform for closer cooperation among UN agencies and national partners. It will work to improve policy coherence and ensure that migration-related priorities are incorporated into wider national development planning.

As coordinator and secretariat of the network, IOM will work with the UN Resident Coordinator, who will serve as its chair.

Speaking at the launch, Yahya described the creation of the network as evidence of a collective commitment to making migration safer, more orderly and regular.

He said the platform could help reshape perceptions surrounding migration, provide a coordinated voice on mobility-related challenges and encourage innovative approaches while ensuring that migrants’ rights remain protected.

Jonathan Prentice, Head of the UN Migration Network Secretariat, also addressed the gathering through a video message and praised Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen migration governance and contribute to international cooperation in the field.

Human stories behind migration

The launch also highlighted the experiences of Pakistani migrants and the importance of creating safe and sustainable migration options.

Moazzam Ali, a Pakistani migrant who voluntarily returned from Romania with assistance from IOM, shared his experience, highlighting the importance of safe migration channels and effective reintegration support for those returning to Pakistan.

His testimony provided a practical perspective on the challenges migrants can face and the importance of ensuring that migration policies address both protection and reintegration.

The event also included a panel discussion titled “Enhancing Whole-of-Government Migration Governance in the Age of Complex Mobility Dynamics and Emerging Global Challenges.”

Representatives from government institutions, rights organisations, academia, civil society and international organisations participated in the discussion.

The session was moderated by Dr Nasra M. Shah, Professor of Migration and Development at the Lahore School of Economics.

A broader migration strategy

The establishment of the network reflects an attempt to move Pakistan’s migration policy towards greater institutional coordination rather than relying on individual agencies to address trafficking, smuggling and other mobility-related challenges separately.

The initiative is also intended to strengthen cooperation between national institutions and international partners while ensuring that migration is incorporated into broader development and governance policies.

The launch concluded with Pakistan and the UN reaffirming their commitment to multi-stakeholder cooperation aimed at improving migration governance, protecting migrants from exploitation and creating safer and more sustainable migration pathways.