Federal Investigation Agency

Inspector Irfan Abdul Nabi, Incharge Immigration and Anti Human Smuggling at FIA Taftan Border

I am working as in-charge of Immigration and Anti Human Smuggling for Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Pakistan- Iran border (Taftan), which is a key transit point for Afghans coming to Pakistan and Pakistani irregular migrants intending to reach Europe. Taftan is in district Chaghi of Balochistan Province, which is extremely vulnerable to external trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants due to its large and unmanned coastal area.

As per standard operating procedures, while departing or arriving in Pakistan, the passenger has to first visit FIA Immigration office for immigration process. At Immigration Office, our duty is to  check the passport and other travel documents and record entry or exit of the passenger in Integrated Border Management System (IBMS)  I serve at an immigration counter, where after scrutiny of travel documents, I record their entry or exit into IBMS along with a real time picture. After this process,  passengers can enter or exit the country. In-case of any mistake or minor ambiguity, passengers are directed to ensure compliance of all the requirements. I also deal with passengers who are offloaded or deported. My responsibility is to assess their situation and act accordingly. In case a passenger is offloaded on or deported on expired documents or visa, the passengers are sent home, after recording their credentials. But if they are offloaded or deported due to forgery etc., they are sent to nearest Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, which in our case is in Taftan, where a proper inquiry is conducted. Whenever we come across any victim of human trafficking, we refer to relevant authorities as per government of Pakistan rules.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, where most of the services throughout the country were closed for public access, we the frontline officers of FIA were handling thousands of returnees at remote locations like Taftan border, and are, unfrequented routes for tens of thousands of overwhelming numbers of persons, which cross the border every year. Corona Virus pandemic  is a huge challenge for Immigration officials as first responders, any passenger observed with COVID-19 symptoms is sent for medical assistance. Initially passengers with COVID-19 symptoms were sent to quarantine but afterwards GOP eased the policy and passengers were sent home for self-isolation.

Looking at the heavy traffic at this border route for Afghan and Pakistani irregular migrants, UNODC Country Office in Pakistan, started assisting the Government of Pakistan (GOP), specifically Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) way before COVID19 to allocate human resources in the remote border area for the Victim Reception and Facilitation Centre (VR&FC).  The VR&FC is being constructed at Taftan which will enable us (FIA officials) to prevent and control irregular migration attempts while providing the necessary assistance to deportees and victims of trafficking.

The scale of human trafficking is staggering, affecting people in almost every country in the world, including Pakistan. Pakistan detected 19,954 victims of human trafficking in 2019 alone, while many more cases go unreported. Globally, millions are entrapped in trafficking in persons—from women forced into prostitution or domestic servitude, girls forced to marry older men, children forced to support armed groups, or men forced to work in construction or agriculture.

In Pakistan, efforts are being made by the FIA, who is the lead agency on TIP and SOM and the tireless efforts of the frontline officers of FIA working day and night at different remote locations throughout Pakistan is unmatched.

Until May 2018, the Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance (PACHTO) 2002 had remained the most important legislation in Pakistan for the prevention and control of human trafficking, which laid down the legal basis for all future anti-trafficking legislation and policy interventions. However, the Ordinance had issues of clarity over internal and external trafficking in persons, besides other lacunae. In May 2018, and with the technical assistance of UNODC Pakistan’s Country Office, the government of the Pakistan passed the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, aiming at introducing measures to prevent and combat human trafficking, especially of women and children. This also clarifies internal and external trafficking; stating that the Police will investigate cases of domestic trafficking and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will probe cases of external trafficking. The act also stresses the need to promote and facilitate national and international cooperation in protecting the trafficking victims and in helping on related matters.

Tackling trafficking in persons brings us closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which call for eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, combatting organized crime and eradicating forced labour, abuse, exploitation and violence against children. Fighting this global scourge means building a society that leaves no-one behind.

 

For any internal human trafficking related issue, please contact your local police and report suspicious on the emergency number, 15.

 

For any external human trafficking related matter please contact the Federal Investigation Agency on details given below

 

Address: FIA Head Quarters, G-9/4, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Helpline: 111-345-786.
Email: complaints@fia.gov.pk