By Islamuddin Sajid
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered strict action against human traffickers, as the government ramps up a crackdown to tackle the issue.
Facilitated by smugglers, many Pakistanis undertake perilous journeys to reach European shores in search of better financial prospects.
Last month, several Pakistanis died in a migrant boat capsize off the southern Greek island of Gavdos.
"Strict legal actions should be taken against human traffickers so that they become example for others," the prime minister said during a meeting in Islamabad. "Immediately legal action be taken to confiscate properties and assets of human traffickers.”
He also directed the Foreign Ministry to contact relevant countries to expedite the extradition of Pakistanis running human trafficking operations abroad.
The prime minister praised the Federal Investigation Agency for taking action against government officials involved in human smuggling.