Human trafficking has been an ongoing issue in Pakistan and many parts of the world for a very long time. Pakistan has been a source and transit of human trafficking, bonded labor, and prostitution for countless years. Human Trafficking is highly concentrated in provinces of Sindh and Punjab. The most common victims for human trafficking are women and young children. Human trafficking and bonded labor are caused by poverty and strife which make it very difficult for many Pakistani families to meet their basic needs. Having that combined with high illiteracy and unemployment rates; there will be people in Pakistan who are willing to sell off their children. In Pakistan children and women are often bought, sold, rented, or kidnapped and then forced to work in illegal panhandling rings, domestic slavery, agricultural labor, or even prostitution. Another cause of human trafficking is men and women who migrate voluntarily looking for low skill job opportunities in Pakistan. These migrants are met with false job offers where illegal labor agents charge them with absurdly high fees which traps them into a harsh bondage debt or involuntary servitude. Most human traffickers in Pakistan use sexual and physical abuse to control young children or women. In addition to those methods, Pakistani human traffickers restrict their movement and migration by seizing their personal identification and travel documents. This makes it so they have no other choice but to be put into illegal activities controlled by human traffickers.
"Pakistan has the third highest population of enslaved individuals in the world" (Global Slavery Index).
"Pakistan may join the Tier 2 Watchlist for Human Trafficking, as it has not undertaken satisfactory measures to combat the issue. If that happens, the country may face suspension of financial aid amongst losing other privilege" (USDFLR)
"Pakistan may join the Tier 2 Watchlist for Human Trafficking, as it has not undertaken satisfactory measures to combat the issue. If that happens, the country may face suspension of financial aid amongst losing other privilege" (USDFLR)
Here is more information on the devastating effects of Human Trafficking in Pakistan: