By: UMME HANI
Abstract:-
Human trafficking is a growing global issue that affects vulnerable populations and threatens national security. Despite legal frameworks, Pakistan continues to struggle with rising cases due to weak enforcement and poverty. This research explores the growing trends of human trafficking in Pakistan, identifying its causes, impacts, and the government’s response to address this challenge. The research is based on secondary data from reports, laws, and international frameworks. Findings show that trafficking takes many forms, including bonded labor, sexual exploitation, and child trafficking, and follows multiple land, sea, and air routes. Key causes include poverty, unemployment, gender inequality, rapid urbanization, and weak law enforcement, and low human development. Lastly, recommendations for strengthening Pakistan’s response, including law enforcement, victim support, and international collaboration, are proposed.
Introduction:-
“The swelling epidemic of human trafficking makes a mockery of the law and its protectors.” (Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator).
Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing illegal industries in the world and is often described as a modern form of human slavery. Almost every country today is affected by it in one way or another. It is also a gendered crime, as traffickers usually exploit the vulnerabilities of women and children, although men are also trafficked, especially for forced labor. The purpose of this research is to examine how human trafficking is growing in Pakistan, its causes and effects on security, and how the government is handling it. It also considers the impact of global cooperation.
Trends and Patterns in Pakistan:-
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) there are an estimated 2.1M victims of modern slavery in Pakistan. Pakistani Christian trafficking victims have been found in countries like China, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Child trafficking in Pakistan is a long standing crises. Thousands of children vanish each year for forced labor, sexual exploitation, begging or organ harvesting. Human smuggling from Pakistan takes place through land, sea, and air routes. The Balochistan region is a key land corridor for migration, with major routes running from Nokandi or from Karachi through Taftan to Zahedan in Iran, and another via Lasbela to the Iranian border. Sea routes start from Gwadar and nearby coastal towns, where migrants board boats crossing the Gulf of Oman to Iran before continuing toward Turkey and Europe. The air route typically involves flying from Karachi to Dubai and then on to Libya.
Human trafficking as a global security challenge:-
Human trafficking is a major global security issue because it crosses borders, fuels organized crime, and weakens social and political stability. It violates human rights and contributes to crimes such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and forced labor, creating insecurity in affected countries. Trafficking in Pakistan is linked to cross border crime and regional instability impacting not only national security but also global peace and security.
Causes:-
Several factors contribute to human trafficking in Pakistan. The country’s low Human Development Index (HDI) Pakistan ranks 161 out of 192 states, according to report. Between 2017-18 and 2020-21, the labor force increased from 65.5 million to 71.76 million, while employed persons rose from 61.71 million to 67.25 million. This gap between labor supply and employment opportunities creates conditions that traffickers exploit. In 2024, the poverty rate in Pakistan (at the $3.65/day, 2017 PPP line) was estimated to be approximately 40.5%, a slight increase from the previous fiscal year’s 40.2%. The unemployment rate for 2024 was projected between approximately 5.47% and 10.3%. Gender inequality is another factor, with Pakistan ranking 145th out of 146 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index 2024. Conflict, instability, social stigma, weak law enforcement, and lack of public awareness also contribute.
Impacts on Pakistan:-
Human trafficking in Pakistan has serious social, psychological, and economic consequences. Victims suffer severe human rights violations and psychological trauma due to exploitation. Trafficking also leads to economic losses and facilitates the spread of infectious diseases, including HIV, as victims are frequently forced into unprotected sexual encounters. Trafficking also weakens communities, creates insecurity, and strengthens organized crime networks, ultimately undermining Pakistan’s internal security.
“Human trafficking is an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ. It is a crime against humanity” (Pope Francis).
Government response:-
To address the issues, Pakistan has passed several laws and mechanisms. The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act 2018 provides legal measures to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases, with punishments including imprisonment for up to seven years, fines of up to one million rupees, or both. The Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act 2018, ICT Child Protection Act 2018, Criminal Law (Second Amendment) Act 2016, and the Zainab Alert Act 2020 further strengthen legal protections. The Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Agency (ZARA) supports rapid response and victim recovery. Other relevant laws include the Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance (PACHTO) and the Bonded Labor (System) Abolition Act (BLAA). Homosexuality is criminalized under Section 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code, and buying or selling a person is prohibited under Sections 371 A and B, although no specific law addresses prostitution. These legal frameworks aim to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable populations.
Recommendations:-
Human trafficking in Pakistan can be controlled by updating and strengthening laws in line with international rules, and by better equipping and training law enforcement agencies. Creating special police and prosecution units can make investigations more focused. Victim identification should be improved through public information and training. Victim support needs more safe shelters and compensation programs. Cooperation with other countries and joining international agreements is also important. Addressing root causes such as limited economic opportunities, lack of education, and weak social protection, along with challenging harmful cultural attitudes and gender based biases through awareness campaigns, is essential.
Conclusion:-
Human trafficking in Pakistan remains a continual challenge due to weak enforcement, poverty, gender inequality, and limited public awareness. Despite existing laws, gaps in implementation and protection continue to expose women, children, and marginalized groups to exploitation. Because trafficking fuels organized crime and regional instability, it is both a national and global security concern. Strengthening law enforcement, improving victim support, addressing root social and economic vulnerabilities, and enhancing international cooperation are essential steps to effectively combat this issue and protect vulnerable communities.
References:-
1. UNODC. Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, 2023.
2. ILO. Modern Slavery Estimates for Pakistan, 2022.
3. Government of Pakistan. Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018.
4. Government of Pakistan. Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018.
5. Global Gender Gap Report. World Economic Forum, 2024.
6. UNDP. Human Development Index Report, 2023.
7. US Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report: Pakistan, 2024.
8. UNICEF Pakistan. Child Trafficking and Exploitation Report, 2022. 9. IOM Pakistan. Migration and Trafficking Routes Re