The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has reportedly decided to establish ‘link offices’ in several foreign countries, including Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malaysia, Spain, and Italy, in a bid to combat human trafficking.
According to the sources, these link offices are intended to facilitate close coordination in preventing human trafficking. Their primary function will be to gather information about human trafficking gangs.
FIA officials will work in collaboration with local authorities in these countries to deter illegal immigration. Additionally, the FIA plans to engage with Interpol to apprehend individuals involved in human trafficking.
The decision to establish these link offices comes in the wake of increased efforts by the FIA to crack down on human trafficking, particularly following a tragic incident in June involving a boat carrying over 300 Pakistanis that capsized near Greece.
This Italy-bound fishing trawler, carrying a large number of individuals, including hundreds of Pakistanis, resulted in a significant loss of lives, prompting heightened measures against human trafficking activities.
Caretaker PM Kakar Reaffirms Pakistan’s Commitment to Polio Eradication in Call with Bill Gates
In another development, interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has given assurance to Bill Gates, the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), that Pakistan is committed to achieving a healthier future. During a phone call received by the prime minister while on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, discussions centered around the progress in eradicating polio from Pakistan.
The BMGF is a key supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and has been actively involved in implementing and funding emergency plans in Pakistan to enhance the accountability and quality of polio vaccination campaigns.
The prime minister, who had previously met Gates in New York during the UN General Assembly session in September, expressed appreciation for the Gates Foundation’s support in the government’s efforts to make Pakistan polio-free. Kakar updated Gates on the ongoing polio vaccination drive across the country and also addressed issues related to malnutrition and maternal health.
Highlighting the cooperation between the government and the BMGF, Kakar reassured Gates that Pakistan remains fully committed to delivering on the promise of a healthier, safer, and financially inclusive nation.
The discussion also touched upon the reported polio cases in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.
Additionally, the prime minister informed Gates about the nationwide anti-polio campaign launched to administer vaccination drops to children under five years old.
The campaign involves dedicated teams in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, aiming to reach millions of children with anti-polio drops through door-to-door efforts.
