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.