Majority of trafficking victims are women

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar informed the lower house on Thursday that, according to the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2023-24, women make up 70.6% of the total trafficked individuals in Pakistan.

The minister shared this information in response to a query from MNA Shahida Rehmani, who inquired about the gender impacts of human trafficking, the percentage of trafficked individuals, the purposes of trafficking, and its underlying causes. He provided the details on behalf of the minister for interior.

Attaullah Tarar said men, women, and children were equally affected by human trafficking, who have been made subject to bonded labour and other crimes.

Over 70 per cent women out of the total 34,000 victims, as per TIP Report 2023-24, made it to 24,000 women victims, he said.

The law existed, awareness campaigns were being run and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was fully active whereas amendments in the legislation from the mover would be welcomed if proposed to bring effective measures, he said.

After the 18th amendment, he said human trafficking was a provincial matter under law and order category. However, the National Apex Committee is the highest level forum that has representation from provincial governments and LEAs, he added.

"I have noted the matter and would make it part of the Apex Committee agenda and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would launch massive awareness campaign as well," he said.