Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Thursday said no human trafficking case was reportedd in the quake affected areas He said this while launching the "Counter Trafficking Campaign in the Earthquake Affected Area" funded by the government of Japan.
The event was organized by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) here at the Tent Village in H-11 Sector.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister reiterated the government's firm resolve to eliminate human trafficking in the country. The Government would continue its fight against the menace and would leave no stone unturned in this regard, he remarked.
Sherpao said counter trafficking campaign was the need of the hour to create awareness among the people on the issue. He lauded the efforts of Japan government and IOM, saying, "we are having close co-operation with IOM and other stakeholders to counter human trafficking in quake-hit areas."
The government has decided not to allow adoption of orphans belonging to the affected areas being an asset of the nation, and their rehabilitation and security is the responsibility of the government, the minister added.
He said the Interior Ministry in collaboration with the Social Welfare and Special Education Ministry had launched a joint initiative to counter human trafficking. As a result a large number of quake victims including widows and orphans had been settled in Hattian Colony District Attock to provide protection, relief, education and health-care facilities to them.
Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said the US government would support training courses to be launched soon for the quake victims.
Earlier, the FIA Director General Tariq Pervaiz said the government had shouldered the responsibility of protecting the vulnerable ones with active support of reputable domestic and international NGO's.
He further said the Ministry launched a major relief activity by opening camps in federal capital with the help of all stakeholders.
Tariq Pervaiz appreciated the services and efforts of law enforcement agencies and said the FIA anti-trafficking unit undertook visits to the camps in AJK and NWFP to prevent any attempt of human trafficking.
IOM Regional Representative Hassan Abdel Moneim Mostafa said IOM was starting a mass awareness raising campaign and economic empowerment activities in the quake affected areas to reduce vulnerability.
Under the objectives of the project, he said the information campaign would focus on vulnerable groups especially widows and orphans to raise awareness about risks and reality of human trafficking.
IOM social mobilizers' teams have already reached Mansehra and Muzaffarabad to start work on the project, he added.
Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah, Charge'd Affairs Embassy of Japan Hiroshi Azuma, former Minister of State for Interior Dr Shahzad Wasim and a number of officials were present on the occasion.
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