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U.S. Removes Pakistan From its Human Trafficking Watch List | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Islamabad, June 3, SPA — The United States has removed

Pakistan from its watch list on human trafficking, a Cabinet

minister said Friday.

Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said he had been

briefed by U.S. ambassador Ryan C. Croker on Thursday and

that the news will be officially announced by the State

Department in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report this

week.

The department recommends sanctions against countries that

fail to combat human trafficking.

Pakistan was included on the list in 2002, but

authorities have in recent months taken several steps to

crack down on trafficking, according to a report of The Associated Press.

In 2002, Pakistan made human smuggling an offense

punishable by up to 10 years in prison, or a fine, and in

January, announced it would establish special courts to

expedite trials of those suspected of smuggling.