In a major crackdown on human trafficking, the government has taken a decisive step. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) upgraded nine of its checkposts to full-fledged police stations. This development took place in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday.
According to a notification from the Ministry of Interior, seven new FIA police stations have been set up in Balochistan. Two others were established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The purpose is clear — to stop the growing network of human smugglers and restore law and order in these sensitive areas.
In KP’s tribal Kurram Agency, the Gavi and Inzarkai checkposts were upgraded. These have now been given the status of FIA stations. In Balochistan, four stations — Charban, Noor Wahab, Brabacha, and Rajay — were set up in Chagai district. Meanwhile, Ghazni and Qamar Din Karez were designated in Zhob district. One more station, named Paragkoh/Chedgi, was created in Panjgur district.
This tough stance came soon after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s orders. Last month, he directed the FIA and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to intensify operations against human traffickers. During a key meeting, held in the presence of cabinet ministers and the interior secretary, the Prime Minister demanded firm action.
PM Shehbaz expressed confidence in the efforts of these agencies. He said their hard work would help wipe out the cruel trade of people smuggling once and for all. He praised the agencies for their recent success in capturing a key culprit — Usman Jajja. This criminal was the ringleader of a notorious gang involved in several human trafficking cases.
The Prime Minister highlighted the disgrace such crimes have brought to Pakistan. He mentioned how many innocent Pakistanis died in tragic boat capsizing incidents near Italy and Morocco. These events shocked the international community and brought shame to the country.
The PM lauded the arrest of Usman Jajja. He called him a central figure in the Greece boat disaster, where several Pakistanis lost their lives. Shehbaz Sharif urged officials to double their efforts. He encouraged them to serve with honesty and protect the dignity of the nation.
This new move shows the government’s strong resolve to root out human trafficking and its criminal networks. The upgraded FIA stations will now play a crucial role in curbing this illegal activity across both provinces.
