Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ordered the interior ministry to expose the so-called “cruel mafia” of human traffickers who exploit the needy by promising them false and ambitious dreams to identify and punish them and take preventive measures so that nothing like this may take place.
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Within hours, the Prime Minister House had stated after the death of one Pakistani citizen in traffickers was confirmed by the Greek authorities in a boat capsize incident that followed from the Mediterranean Sea. The authorities also stated that 47 persons rescued from the sea were Pakistanis.
Shehbaz said he was saddened by the death of Pakistanis: “Trafficking of human traffickers beings is a tragic crime that claims among its many victims many lives and many families every year.” She continued, “These human traffickers are a cruel mafia who manipulate and disappoint the poor with false and ambitious dreams.”
The prime minister said that the culprits should be apprehended and punished severely so that they do not dare to commit such offenses again.
In a separate statement, President Asif Zardari also called human traffickers a “heinous practice” responsible for immeasurable suffering and pain.
Reports came in late last night about a cargo vessel carrying illegal migrants from the southern Greek island of Gavdos capsized. Coast guards of Greece initially declared five people drowned and 39 rescued, but many were still missing as operations of search continued.
Greece coast authorities said those rescued were transferred to the island of Crete. Later on Sunday the foreign ministry that one Pakistani citizen was among those who died in a boat capsizing incident.
“At this stage, we cannot firmly establish the number of deceased or missing Pakistani nationals,” said the ministry. The ministry added that officials from the Pakistan embassy had reached Crete to meet the rescued Pakistani nationals and provide any necessary assistance.
“The embassy has also activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) to support Pakistanis in Greece,” said the ministry, adding that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is personally monitoring the identification of Pakistanis in the incident and activities related to their help.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, who, on the directives of the prime minister, ordered immediate “decisive action” by FIA to launch and coordinate with other LEAs against human trafficking mafias and smuggling networks.
“As said within an issued declaration here, the inquiry committee has been commissioned by the interior minister and has been given the onerous task of inquiring into the incident whose report will be expected within five days.”
Polio campaign (traffickers)
Shehbaz expressed how more than 44 million children will be vaccinated against polio in the last drive this year, reiterating the commitment of the government to the eradication of this crippling disease from the country forever.
He formally started the anti-polio campaign today by administering polio drops to under-five children at the inauguration ceremony held here in Islamabad. The home-to-home campaign will commence today.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, he also said that there was an increasing concern for recounted with some 60 polio cases anticipated in 2024, but added that the government, both federal and provincial, would carry the country through this challenge.
He thanked international agencies who had been partners with Pakistan in the struggle against polio, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the government of Saudi Arabia.
He thanked specifically the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for contributing to the campaign. “I especially thank the government of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, for his very valuable contribution towards eradicating polio.”.
The prime minister told the parents that they should fully contribute to the campaign because it is an individual responsibility for the safety of children from polio. He said this when he acknowledged the country’s polio workers, who were brave enough to toil in harsh conditions.
Earlier, Prime Minister’s Focal Person (Anti-Polio Drive) Dr Ayesha Raza Farooq congratulated the Prime Minister for his unshaken support and participation. She reassured that this would be an all-out effort on the campaign’s part to ensure that no child goes vaccinated against the disease.
The campaign is expected to continue until December 22 in 143 specified districts of the country. More than 44 million children will be vaccinated against polio during the campaign, for which over 400,000 polio workers have been deployed.
In a video message on the occasion, Farooq stated: “We are determined to make the vaccine accessible to all children up to the age of five years. As a mother, I appeal to you to open your doors to polio workers and give all your children up to the age of five the mandatory polio drops.”.
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