Every year agents lure thousands of Pakistanis abroad with promises of quick jobs, only for them to end up trapped in debt, abuse or worse. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately issued messages this week to mark the World Day Against human trafficking in Person, calling upon every citizen to remain vigilant and to help identify persons and networks involved in human trafficking. Their message was simple but important: stopping this crime is not only a job for the government; it needs the awareness and responsibility of every household.
Why the President and Prime Minister Want Citizens to Help
In their declarations, both leaders said that the scourge of trafficking can be eradicated only with continuous state action along with active cooperation, awareness and a sense of responsibility from the ordinary people. That’s a different tone. Rather than treat trafficking as a law-and-order matter alone, the leadership is deploying families, neighbors, and communities to be the first line of defense, as traffickers tend to operate in the same towns and mohallas as where their victims live, albeit discreetly.
What Nationwide Vigilance Looks Like in Practice
For most Pakistani families vigilance does not mean chasing criminals. It means recognizing the warning signs before a loved one walks out the door. FIA and other agencies have already enhanced their Anti-Human Smuggling efforts including biometric checks at airports and a 24/7 helpline to register complaints, but such tools are only effective when the public actually reports suspicious activity. “Essentially the appeal from the President and PM is to bridge that gap between government systems and community knowledge.
What families can do today
•Always verify any overseas job offer directly with the Bureau of Emigration or a licensed overseas employment promoter, not an unregistered “agent.”
•If something doesn’t feel right, call FIA’s national 24/7 helpline or the Trafficking in Persons hotline immediately.
•Never give the original CNIC, passport or property papers to anyone promising a “guaranteed visa.
•”Before making any advance, check the registration of the agent on the website of the Protectorate of Emigrants.
•Report suspicious recruitment activity to the local police helpline or nearest FIA Anti Human Smuggling office.
•Before anyone signs a contract, openly discuss job offers on WhatsApp or Facebook at home.
The Role of Local and State Systems
The messages of the president and PM were not conjured out of thin air. The FIA has increased biometric checks at airports and has a national helpline to take complaints about trafficking and visa fraud. The government’s wider National Action Plan also seeks to strengthen these checks and UN agencies working with Pakistan are pushing for safer, legal migration routes rather than outright travel bans. These systems are here today but as the president and PM pointed out, they rely on citizens actually using them.
Conclusion
Human trafficking feeds on silence, desperation and misplaced trust in strangers promising a better life abroad. The President and Prime Minister have made clear that this fight cannot be left to law enforcement alone and have called for vigilance across the nation. Every family that verifies an agent, that questions a “too good to be true” offer or that picks up the phone to report suspicious activity is responding to that call. The first step in protecting your loved ones is one honest dinner conversation tonight.
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