Islamabad: In response to the increasing incidents of migrant boat capsizing and complaints of Pakistanis involved in begging abroad, the government has amended existing laws to tackle these pressing issues.
On Friday, the Senate unanimously passed the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill, Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill, and Emigration (Amendment) Bill, presented by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
These legislative amendments, which had already been approved by the relevant House Standing Committee, aim to curb the smuggling of young girls for prostitution and beggars to Gulf states.
The development follows the tragic deaths of dozens of Pakistanis in recent months due to boat capsizing incidents while attempting to reach Europe through human traffickers. This has prompted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order strict action against human smugglers and officials facilitating them.
Additionally, the amendments address another issue—Pakistanis begging abroad. In July 2024, the Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development confirmed this issue during a Senate Standing Committee meeting.
In November 2024, the government placed 4,300 beggars on the Exit Control List (ECL) after a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al Maliki.
Hundreds of Pakistanis have been deported from Gulf countries in recent weeks due to documentation irregularities, lack of sufficient travel funds, procedural shortcomings, criminal involvement, and begging.
Speaking in the Senate, Law Minister Tarar stated that the recent boat tragedies, which claimed the lives of several illegal Pakistani immigrants, have reinforced the urgency to combat this menace.
He said the Interior Ministry proposed amendments after consulting stakeholders to prevent human trafficking, smuggling of young girls, and beggars from Pakistan.
He also pointed out that gangs smuggling beggars abroad were tarnishing Pakistan’s global reputation, while also highlighting the unfortunate smuggling of young girls for illicit purposes.
The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend the 2018 Act to include organized begging as a criminal offense.
The legislation proposes enhancing penalties from three to seven years imprisonment and from seven to ten years imprisonment with a fine of Rs1 million. Crimes involving women and children will be punishable by 14 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs2 million.
Pakistani diplomatic missions in GCC countries, Iraq, and Malaysia have reported that some Pakistanis traveling for Hajj, Umrah, and personal visits have been found engaged in begging.
The Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill increases the punishment for smugglers from five to ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs10 million.
Additionally, the Emigration (Amendment) Bill removes courts’ discretionary power to impose minor fines, making imprisonment mandatory with an increased fine of Rs1 million.
Senate members can submit recommendations by Monday before the next session.
