United Nations, New York – 25 November 2025(Kamran Raja): Pakistan has called for a comprehensive and coordinated global effort to address human trafficking by focusing on its underlying causes, including economic disparities, limited legal pathways for regular migration, and the need for conflict prevention and resolution. Speaking at the High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the appraisal of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, warned that restrictive visa policies and stringent border control regimes risk worsening existing challenges and driving vulnerable individuals toward human smugglers.
Ambassador Jadoon highlighted that armed conflicts, climate-induced disasters, and widening economic inequalities continue to fuel human trafficking globally. He expressed particular concern over the rising number of children who fall victim to traffickers, emphasizing the severity and growing scale of the issue. Noting Pakistan’s position as a country of origin, transit, and destination for the movement of persons, the Ambassador outlined Islamabad’s two-pronged strategy to combat human trafficking: strengthening domestic measures and enhancing international cooperation.
He detailed several significant steps taken by Pakistan, including:
Launch of the National Action Plan on Countering the Smuggling of Migrants (2026–2031), with a dedicated National Action Plan on Trafficking in Persons currently under development;
Deployment of the Integrated Border Management System at all immigration checkpoints to enhance enforcement against traffickers;
Training of more than 36,000 officials in anti-trafficking laws and enforcement procedures, in partnership with international organizations;
Establishment of over 100 shelter homes across the country, providing psychological support, legal assistance, and vocational training for victims of trafficking.
Ambassador Jadoon reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with the international community to ensure the effective implementation of the Global Plan of Action and to strengthen global efforts to eliminate human trafficking in all its forms.