Pakistan and the United Kingdom have agreed to enhance their cooperation to tackle illegal immigration, online child harassment, and other serious crimes.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a high-level meeting in Islamabad, chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, where officials from both countries reviewed the progress under the UK-Pakistan Serious Crime and Law Enforcement Programme (UPSCALE).
The meeting focused on reviewing progress under the programme. Officials from UPSCALE, including Neil Fowler, Ken Daines, Habib Gul, and Fizza Waheed, participated in the session along with senior officers from the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The participants reviewed actions taken to address key issues such as illegal immigration, online child harassment, mutual legal assistance, extradition, criminal record sharing, illegal funding, and anti-narcotics measures.
The interior minister emphasised the need for stronger coordination and joint actions to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking. "Illegal immigration is a top priority, and coordinated efforts must be made to prevent it," he said.
The minister also stressed the importance of dealing firmly with online child harassment. "Immediate and strict action must be taken in such cases, and all available resources will be used to protect children online," Naqvi stated.
To tighten border control, Naqvi announced that deported individuals involved in illegal migration would now be included in the passport control list for five years. The proposal to add sex offenders to this list is also under consideration.
Acknowledging the UK's support, Naqvi welcomed continued collaboration. "Mutual cooperation is essential to combat illegal immigration. We value British assistance in this regard," he noted. He also highlighted improvements made in mutual legal assistance rules between the two countries, which have led to more effective outcomes.
The meeting was briefed on the progress of the UPSCALE programme, including the operational status of a dedicated delivery unit and the establishment of Pakistan's first sex offender registry.
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