09/10/2025
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized a one-day community awareness session on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling at Gujrat.
The session provided a platform for youth, men, women, returnees, and transgender individuals from local communities to learn, reflect, and share their lived experiences, and concerns related to crimes. 104 participants attended the session which included presence of FIA officials from the Gujrat circle, victim support officers from Tahafuz Markaz, and representatives of Social Welfare, Labour, Women Development, Overseas Employment promoters, Punjab Police and local grassroot organizations. The participation of the transgender community, alongside community leaders, highlighted strong local engagement and a commitment to inclusion.
Director FIA Gujranwala Zone, Muhammad Bin Ashraf, highlighted the importance of making informed migration decisions. He also updated participants on the FIA’s ongoing efforts to counter migrant smuggling and noted the agency’s positive shift towards digitization in case management systems.
The session, led by Mr. Basharat Shahzad, UNODC Consultant, focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of human trafficking and migrant smuggling, highlighting the distinctions between the two crimes and outlining Pakistan’s national legal frameworks. Participants gained insights into the roles of FIA and Police, service providers, and the available helplines and complaint mechanisms. The session promoted open dialogue through an interactive Q&A segment.
Short documentaries in Urdu, produced by UNODC, were screened to showcase the real-life impact of migrant smuggling and related crimes.
Mr. Ajmal Sadiq Sandhu, Deputy Director of the FIA Composite Circle Gujrat, elaborated on the FIA’s role in prevention and enforcement measures. Additionally, Mr. Umar Farooq, Placement Officer at TEVTA highlighted how skill development and vocational training programs support safe, legal, and regular migration pathways. Ms. Munawar Sultana, UNODC Consultant, highlighted the factors that increase vulnerabilities to being trafficked or smuggled, paying special attention to the experiences of transgender persons. Her presentation underscored the critical need for enhancing protection measures and overall inclusive response.
The event also featured the personal story of a deportee from Gujrat who shared the challenges of irregular migration and the journey of reintegration after returning home.
The initiative was appreciated by the participants who called for more similar initiatives. Participants gained knowledge on practical tools to identify risks and report concerns. Youth and transgender participants pledged to act as ambassadors for awareness and prevention in their neighborhoods.
By investing in awareness, inclusivity, and collective action, these community sessions aim to strengthen local resilience against the tactics and traps of criminal networks.
