Islamabad:
A panel of the upper chamber adopted a bill requiring a stricter punishment for human smuggling, a phenomenon that has recently cost the lives of hundreds of Pakistani.
The Senate Committee on the Permanence of the Interior met on Tuesday in Parliament to examine the crucial legislative changes and infrastructure problems under the presidency of Senator Faisal Saleem.
Speaking during the Committee meeting, the interior secretary, Khurram Agha, said that the bill – the bill on the prevention of the smuggling of migrants (amendment), 2025 – seeks to limit the human smuggling “which is increasing”. The proposed legislation, he said, recommends a more strict sanction for crime.
Senator Shahadat Awan defended the bill, declaring that the proposed law aimed to make it difficult for human smugglers to obtain a deposit.
The Committee subsequently approved the bill, which introduces a minimum sentence of three years to strengthen deterrence against human smuggling.
The members of the Committee also examined the bill on the prevention of the trafficking of persons (amendment), 2025, stressing the need for stricter action against unauthorized agents.
He also discussed the emigration bill (amendment), 2025, officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirming an increase in fines to 1 million rupees to limit illegal activities.
After the ship capsized incidents near Greece in November of last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the Ministry of the Interior to launch a repression against smugglers and human traffickers. (With application input)
