‘Collective efforts needed to curb human smuggling’

Social Welfare Department organises awareness programme

HYDERABAD:

The Department of Social Welfare, in cooperation with the Child Protection Unit and social welfare organisation Hari Welfare Association Nawabshah, organised an awareness programme on 'Prevention of Human Smuggling and Forced Labour'.

Additional Director Social Welfare Muhammad Sabir Qureshi, Deputy Director Child Protection Muslim Farooq, District Population Welfare Officer Riaz Ahmed Shar, DSP Police Long Khan Shar, President Hari Welfare Organisation Akram Khaskheli and others were one voice against human smuggling and forced labour, terming it a serious crime and said that "curbing it is our responsibility." Speakers said that human smuggling and forced labour exist in society in different shapes like prostitution, human prisons, kidnapping of minors, theft of human organs, forced marriages, forced labor, cross border human smuggling, forced beggary from children their kidnapping and trade.

They said that prevention of these crimes is the collective responsibility of every citizen.

Speakers also said that the Sindh government has formed a district level vigilance committee for prevention of human smuggling and forced labour under the supervision of deputy commissioner, which also includes officials of various government departments.