Regional Cooperation Workshop in Islamabad addresses migrant smuggling

A two-day Regional Cooperation Workshop focusing on combating Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) and trafficking in person (TIP) wrapped up in Islamabad on Saturday. The event, jointly organized by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), aimed to enhance collaboration among nations to tackle the pressing issue of migrant smuggling, particularly in light of recent tragic incidents like the Greece Boat incident.

Representatives from various countries including Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Libya, UAE, Iraq, Oman, Greece, Italy, and Iran participated in the workshop. Key delegates shared insights on national trends in TIP and SOM, best practices in investigation and prosecution, and challenges in international cooperation on combating SOM.

Notable discussions were led by Director FIA Lahore Zone, Sarfraz Khan Virk, on cross-border investigations, and Director Immigration FIA, Abdul Qadir Qamar, on enhancing border control mechanisms. The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Additional Director General (ADG) Immigration FIA, Ashraf Zubair Siddiqui, who expressed gratitude to all participants and emphasized Pakistan's commitment to combat human smuggling and trafficking through a comprehensive approach involving legal frameworks and collaborative efforts.

Delegates from participating countries were presented with souvenirs, symbolizing the shared commitment to ongoing collaboration in the fight against smuggling of migrants. The workshop highlighted the importance of international cooperation in addressing this complex issue and reaffirmed the dedication of all involved parties to combatting human trafficking and smuggling.