On Thursday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inaugurated the National Trafficking in Person (TIP) Hotline, providing a platform for the public to register complaints against human trafficking.
Individuals can report complaints by dialing 111-247-786, and these reports will be directed to relevant police stations throughout Pakistan. Victims identified through the hotline will be referred to appropriate welfare departments.
This crucial initiative, established at the FIA headquarters, was swiftly implemented with the support of the Australian High Commission through the International Labour Organisation (ILO). FIA Director General Mohsin Hassan Butt emphasized the significance of the ‘National TIP Hotline for National Referral Mechanism’ in the country’s fight against human trafficking, labeling it a pivotal moment.
Butt highlighted the system’s evolution as a more coordinated, efficient, and harmonized approach to reporting incidents across the nation. He described it not merely as a system but as a catalyst for change, enhancing the capacity to comprehensively address trafficking in persons. The FIA Director General expressed gratitude to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for their support in combating human trafficking, emphasizing their joint efforts in formulating the National Action Plan.
The Deputy Australian High Commissioner commended the collaborative efforts of FIA and ILO, characterizing the hotline as a revolutionary step in combating human trafficking. FIA Additional Director Shireen Malik Sher, the focal person for the hotline project, collaborated with FIA Anti-Human Smuggling Directorate Director Israr Ahmed Khan to swiftly complete the project.
The launch ceremony, attended by officials from UNODC, the Australian High Commission, the ILO director, a US political advisor, and senior FIA officers, marked a significant stride in the ongoing battle against human trafficking in all its forms.
