No data of child trafficking victims, SC told

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the provinces to submit reports regarding measures taken to curb human smuggling and the data of out-of-school children within a month.

A two-member bench of the top court, comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, heard the case pertaining to the trafficking of minors.

During proceedings, the court remarked that there was a need to formulate and implement policies to prevent human trafficking.

The chief justice said that the boat tragedy on Greek shores was a matter of human rights. He said that innocent and poor people were tricked into going abroad on the pretext of better jobs. Citizens were duped by human traffickers and paid millions of rupees, he added.

He pointed out that children and women were also victims of human smuggling.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2023.