SSDO organises workshop on capacity building on migration management and the fight against transnational organised crime

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – Sep 13, 2024) The Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has successfully organised an intensive two-day workshop aimed at strengthening migration governance and combating transnational organised crime (TOC), including human trafficking and smuggling.

The training brought together around 40 participants, including parliamentarians and policymakers from Punjab. This initiative aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the legal and policy frameworks surrounding migration, trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), while building the capacity of key stakeholders to develop and implement robust legislative and administrative strategies.

The training began with an opening session led by SSDO Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas, who warmly welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives of the workshop. He set the tone by stressing the importance of a coordinated approach in tackling irregular migration and organised crime.

He stressed the crucial role of parliamentary oversight in ensuring the effective implementation of legal frameworks, and urged lawmakers to hold governments accountable for upholding migration management standards. Abbas further called for strengthening cooperation between parliament, civil society and enforcement agencies to address these complex challenges.

The session was enlivened by speeches by the Director General of the Anti Money Laundering Authority, Dr Ehsan Sadiq and the Deputy British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Andrew Dalgleish.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ehsan Sadiq highlighted the complexities surrounding transnational organized crime and irregular migration in Pakistan, outlining key issues and challenges. He stressed the urgent need for stronger enforcement mechanisms and enhanced international cooperation to dismantle criminal networks that prey on vulnerable populations.

Dr Sadiq also emphasised the crucial role of parliamentarians in strengthening legislation and holding relevant departments accountable for the effective enforcement of legal frameworks.

This was followed by a technical session chaired by Syed Kausar Abbas, who provided an in-depth analysis of the legal framework for migration, TIP and SOM, including Pakistan’s national laws, international conventions (such as the ILO and UN Conventions) and the National Action Plan for TIP and SOM.

Abbas highlighted critical gaps in the existing legal framework and stressed the need for harmonized laws and enforcement across all regions of Pakistan. Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the distinction between TIP and SOM, which is essential for shaping policy and legislative actions.

Nasrullah Rai, Deputy Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), elaborated on the government’s efforts to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking. He described the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies and steps taken to improve operational responses and victim support.

In the afternoon session, an expert on migration and TIP, Dr. Farhan Navid Yousuf, explored the root causes of irregular migration, linking economic vulnerabilities, underemployment and conflict as key factors. He stressed the importance of human rights issues for irregular migrants and proposed policy solutions to promote safe, regular migration pathways.

Dr. Yousuf also emphasized the role of local entrepreneurship and economic opportunities in reducing vulnerability to exploitation. He encouraged stakeholders to think innovatively about strengthening communities.

One of the key sessions of the day was given by SSDO Senior Director Shahid Khan Jatoi, who discussed the role of parliamentarians in migration governance. He underlined the crucial importance of legislative oversight, how parliamentarians can effectively influence migration policies and provided examples of successful parliamentary initiatives.

Participants engaged in interactive discussions, culminating in the development of a legislative action plan aimed at improving migration governance through improved policymaking. The second day focused on the procedural aspects of legislative work, with Mohsin Abbas Syed, a legislative expert, delivering a session on the Rules of Business of the Punjab Provincial Assembly.

This session provided participants with the knowledge on how parliamentarians can use tools such as legislation, motions, questions and call-to-attention notices to influence migration policy and address emerging challenges. Attendees were divided into working groups to draft legislative specimens, simulating the development of migration-related policies that could be presented in parliament.

The training concluded with parliamentarians formulating a detailed action plan focused on legislative engagement, strengthening the legal framework for migration governance and creating policies to enhance youth employability and entrepreneurship. The plan also included district and constituency level advocacy, awareness raising initiatives and youth dialogues.

In his closing remarks, Syed Kausar Abbas stressed the importance of concerted efforts to improve migration governance in Pakistan. He emphasised SSDO’s continued commitment to capacity building and legislative advocacy in addressing TIP, SOM and irregular migration.

This workshop, supported by the FCDO, is part of SSDO’s broader mission to improve Pakistan’s response to migration management and transnational organised crime. By engaging policymakers, law enforcement and civil society, SSDO aims to develop sustainable solutions that protect vulnerable populations, promote regular migration pathways and strengthen institutional capacities.