President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have emphasized the need for fast-tracking measures to combat human trafficking, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
In their separate statements on Sunday, both the president and the prime minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Pakistani nationals in a boat capsizing incident near Greece.
The prime minister instructed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to submit an inquiry report of the incident as soon as possible. He said concrete steps should be taken to prevent such incidents in future.
Shehbaz Sharif said human trafficking is a heinous crime that claims many lives and destroys many homes every year. He said human traffickers are a cruel mafia which extorts money from poor people by showing them false dreams.
Shehbaz Sharif said such people should be identified and punished severely so that they may not repeat such heinous acts.
In his statement, President Asif Zardari said human trafficking is a heinous practice as people lose their loved ones in it.
The president offered condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for fortitude to them.
Mohsin Naqvi takes notice
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of the tragic boat capsizing incident near a Greece island.
Expressing his concern over the incident, Mohsin Naqvi directed to conduct a thorough investigation in this regard. He strongly condemned human trafficking, calling it an intolerable crime that has destroyed many families.
He urged the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take nationwide, unbiased action against the trafficking mafias involved in these illegal activities.
Mohsin Naqvi expressed his deep sorrow and grief over death of Pakistani migrants who were going to Europe.
Mohsin Naqvi also summoned a detailed inquiry report over the tragic incident, while a committee was also constituted to conduct thorough investigation into the sad incident. The committee will submit detailed report in five days to the interior minister.
Mohsin Naqvi said that the government has already adopted zero tolerance policy against human smuggling and anyone who found involved in human smuggling will be dealt with iron hands.
At least five Pakistanis drowned after their wooden boat capsized off Greece's southern island of Gavdos.
So far 39 men — most of them from Pakistan — have been rescued by cargo vessels sailing in the area. They have been transferred to the island of Crete.
Coastguard boats, merchant vessels, an Italian frigate and naval aircraft have been searching the area since Greek authorities were alerted about the incident on Friday night.
In separate incidents on Saturday, a Malta-flagged cargo vessel rescued 47 migrants from a boat sailing about 40 nautical miles off Gavdos, while a tanker rescued another 88 migrants some 28 nautical miles off the tiny island in Greece's south.
Reporter Awais Kiyani/Agencies