Lahore Hosts Provincial Dialogue on Combating Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling

Lahore, The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, organized a Provincial Dialogue in Lahore on the urgent issues of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM). The event, which took place on April 18, 2024, drew nearly 90 stakeholders including government officials, community leaders, and law enforcement to discuss strategies and solutions for these challenges in Pakistan.

According to United Nations Pakistan, the dialogue was aimed at fostering a collaborative approach to tackle trafficking and smuggling. Syed Kausar Abbas, Executive Director of SSDO, highlighted the need for a multi-sectoral strategy to address the root causes of these issues and protect vulnerable communities. Uzma Kardar, a Member of the Punjab Parliamentary Assembly, and Ahmed Khan Bachar, Opposition Leader in Punjab, also emphasized enhancing law enforcement and regulatory measures at the provincial level.