Socio-Economic Factors Contributing to Human Trafficking in Pakistan

Authors

  • Munawwar Sultana PhDScholar, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55737/qjss.550397594

Keywords:

Human Trafficking, Pakistan, Socio-economic Factors,, Poverty, Education, Social Inequality,, Vulnerability, Exploitation, Prevention

Abstract

The nature and causes of human trafficking in Pakistan are multifaceted and are closely linked with the socio-economy context. Literacy, any form of the disease, ills, joblessness, and inequality makes people develop weakness and easily are forced to be traffickers or become victims of trafficking. These cover economic demand and poverty that force people to look for a way to survive, cultural inclinations that encourage gender discrimination and caste discrimination that exposes certain groups of society to human trafficking. These conditions make the environment favourable for traffickers to exploit people for labour or sexual purposes and continue the cycle of poverty and pain. This calls for multi-sectorial interventions alongside the legislation to fight human trafficking in Pakistan, where besides the causes that create the market for trafficking are the traffickers themselves. This paper aims to explore the socio-economic factors that prevail in human trafficking in Pakistan and put forward advisory steps for the appropriate response. Through the elimination of poverty, expansion of educational access, eradication of discriminative social and cultural, enhancement of law and order, and provision of numberless victim support services, Pakistan will be able to eradicate this heinous crime on human rights.

Author Biography

  • Munawwar Sultana, PhDScholar, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

References

Ahmad, N., Ahmad, M., & Masood, R. (2020). Socio-psychological implications of public harassment for women in the capital city of Islamabad. Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 27(1), 77-100. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971521519891480

Ahmad, N., Iqbal, J., & Haq, Z. (2022). Region-wise comparative analysis of multi-dimensional poverty in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Journal of Law & Social Studies, 4(2), 262-278. https://doi.org/10.52279/jlss.04.02.262278

Ali, G., Shah, S., & Khan, S. (2021). Impact of financial constraints and gender disparities on female’s higher education (a case study of district Swabi, kpk, Pakistan). Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 03(04), 198-207. https://doi.org/10.52567/pjsr.v3i4.288

Ali, T., Ali, S., Nadeem, S., Memon, Z., Soofi, S., Madhani, F., … & Bhutta, Z. (2022). Perpetuation of gender discrimination in pakistani society: results from a scoping review and qualitative study conducted in three provinces of pakistan. BMC Women S Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-02011-6

Ali, T., Krantz, G., Gul, R., Asad, N., Johansson, E., & Mogren, I. (2011). Gender roles and their influence on life prospects for women in urban Karachi, pak0istan: a qualitative study. Global Health Action, 4(1), 7448. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v4i0.7448

Anwar, T. (2022). Prevalence of relative poverty in Pakistan. The Pakistan Development Review, 1111-1131. https://doi.org/10.30541/v44i4iipp.1111-1131

Ashraf, C. (2024). An analytical study of assessment of gender role attitude through tv dramas among the people of pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(1), 735-741. https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2024.v12i1.2100

Awerbuch, A., Gunaratne, N., Jain, J., & Caralis, P. (2020). Raising awareness of human trafficking in key professional fields via a multidisciplinary educational approach. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 13(2), 159-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhrh-07-2019-0053

Baig, K. (2024). Exploring the role of the criminal justice system in combating human trafficking in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(1), 340–347. https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2024.v12i1.2062

Bain, C. (2017). Entrepreneurship and innovation in the fight against human trafficking. Social Inclusion, 5(2), 81-84. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v5i2.924

Barner, J., Okech, D., & Camp, M. (2014). Socio-economic inequality, human trafficking, and the global slave trade. Societies, 4(2), 148-160. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc4020148

Bryant, K. and Landman, T. (2020). Combatting human trafficking since palermo: what do we know about what works?. Journal of Human Trafficking, 6(2), 119-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322705.2020.1690097

Budiani-Saberi, D. and Columb, S. (2013). A human rights approach to human trafficking for organ removal. Medicine Health Care and Philosophy, 16(4), 897-914. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-013-9488-y

Cheema, S. and Jamal, W. (2022). An empirical study on gender based discrimination at pakistani workplaces: determination of the causes of gender based discrimination in pakistan’s private service sector workplaces. Sustainable Business and Society in Emerging Economies, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.26710/sbsee.v4i2.2272

Cole, J. and Sprang, G. (2015). Sex trafficking of minors in metropolitan, micropolitan, and rural communities. Child Abuse & Neglect, 40, 113-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.07.015

Hadi, A. (2017). Patriarchy and gender-based violence in Pakistan. European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research, 10(2), 297. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejser.v10i2.p297-304

Inam, H., Janjua, M., Martins, R., Zahid, N., Khan, S., Sattar, A., … & Malik, M. (2020). Cultural barriers for women in surgery: how thick is the glass ceiling? An analysis from a low-middle-income country. World Journal of Surgery, 44(9), 2870-2878. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05544-9

Joiya, S. and Quddus, M. (2022). Social and economic determinants of human trafficking: a role of forced labour in Punjab, Pakistan. Irasd Journal of Economics, 4(3), 429-438. https://doi.org/10.52131/joe.2022.0403.0090

Kakar, M., Yousaf, F., & Draiweesh, A. (2020). Irregular migration, trafficking into a forced marriage, and health insecurity. Global Regional Review, V(I), 262-268. https://doi.org/10.31703/grr.2020(v-i).29

Khalid, A. (2023). Personal meanings and reality of gendered socialization in Pakistan. Comparative Sociology, 22(6), 765-784. https://doi.org/10.1163/15691330-bja10095

Khan, A., Iqbal, N., & Ahmad, I. (2022). Human trafficking in Pakistan: a qualitative analysis. Journal of Social Sciences Review, 2(3), 257-268. https://doi.org/10.54183/jssr.v2i3.136

Khan, S. and Yahong, W. (2021). Symmetric and asymmetric impact of poverty, income inequality, and population on carbon emission in Pakistan: new evidence from ardl and nardl co-integration. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.666362

Klabbers, R. (2023). Human trafficking risk factors, health impacts, and opportunities for intervention in Uganda: a qualitative analysis. Global Health Research and Policy, 8(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-023-00332-z

Kurosaki, T. (2022). Targeting the vulnerable and the choice of vulnerability measures: review and application to Pakistan. The Pakistan Development Review, 49(2), 87-103. https://doi.org/10.30541/v49i2pp.87-103

Malik, M., Hussain, A., Hashmi, A., Saeed, H., Azhar, H., & Abbasi, A. (2023). Barriers to gender equity for female healthcare academicians and researchers in Pakistan: is it still an issue? Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.981178

Martins, R., Gillani, M., Jawaid, S., Zaidi, S., & Malik, M. (2022). Societal preferences for gender of surgeons: a cross‐sectional study in the general population of Pakistan. World Journal of Surgery, 46(4), 757-766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-021-06418-4

Memon, F. (2020). Climate change and violence against women: a study of a flood-affected population in the rural area of Sindh, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Women S Studies Alam-E-Niswan, 27(1), 65-85. https://doi.org/10.46521/pjws.027.01.0039

Mumtaz, Z., Jhangri, G., Bhatti, A., & Ellison, G. (2022). Caste in Muslim Pakistan: a structural determinant of inequities in the uptake of maternal health services. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 29(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2022.2035516

Munir, M. (2015). Trafficking in persons: Faulty regulations and flawed policing in Pakistan. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2613913

Nadeem, M. A., Nawaz, T., & Ashraf, S. (2024). Socio-economic catalysts and trafficking trends: Mapping drug addiction in Pakistan. Contemporary Issues in Social Sciences and Management Practices, 3(1), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.61503/cissmp.v3i1.96

Piracha, A. and Chaudhary, M. (2015). Better awareness for better natural hazards preparedness in pakistan. International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v2.n4.92

Safdar, M., Akram, M., Sher, F., & Rahman, A. (2021). Socioeconomic determinants of caste-based endogamy: a qualitative study. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 8(2), 39-54. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/697

Safdar, M., Nasar, A., Akram, M., & Yousaf, F. (2021). An assessment of the structural relationship between determinants and implications of caste‐based endogamy in Pakistan. International Social Science Journal, 72(243), 29-45. https://doi.org/10.1111/issj.12296

Sarwar, A. and Chaudhry, M. (2021). The role of women empowerment towards household poverty reduction: evidence from punjab, pakistan. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 9(3), 384-397. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2021.9339

Schmidt, A. (2020). Human trafficking – between punishable human rights violations and decriminalization. European Criminal Law Review, 10(3), 272-292. https://doi.org/10.5771/2193-5505-2020-3-272

Shakeel, M. and Hayat, A. (2020). Impact of economic reforms on social sector of pakistan: an empirical analysis. Review of Economics and Development Studies, 6(2), 423-437. https://doi.org/10.47067/reads.v6i2.210

Shakoor, A. (2022). Political unsteadiness and economic retardation in Pakistan. Journal of Research in Economics and Finance Management, 1(1), 39-51. https://doi.org/10.56596/jrefm.v1i1.11

Soharwardi, M., Firdous, A., & Gill, A. (2021). Are environment, informal sector and poverty interrelated?. International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.33687/ijae.009.02.3579

Spires, B. (2021). Intersections between human trafficking and education: toward new research agendas. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, 16(2), 84-99. https://doi.org/10.20355/jcie29464

Stanescu, N., Dan, A., & Tasențe, T. (2023). Human trafficking – the boomerang of a decadent society (social perception of human trafficking in dobrogea / constanța). Technium Social Sciences Journal, 44, 985-1001. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v44i1.9036

Sultan, M., Zafar, H., & Mahesar, S. (2022). Perceived effect of covid-19 on increase of poverty in pakistan: empirical analysis through opinion of leading economists. Journal of Marketing Strategies, 4(2), 365-381. https://doi.org/10.52633/jms.v4i2.220

Ullah, S. (2022). The socio-economic effects of diaspora on the Pakistani families left behind. Journal of Regional Studies Review, 1(1), 27-35. https://doi.org/10.62843/jrsr/2022.39909

Yousaf, F. (2017). Forced migration, human trafficking, and human security. Current Sociology, 66(2), 209-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011392117736309

Yousaf, F. and Purkayastha, B. (2015). ‘I am only half alive’: organ trafficking in Pakistan amid interlocking oppressions. International Sociology, 30(6), 637-653. https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580915605648

Zakar, R., Zakar, M., & Krämer, A. (2012). Voices of strength and struggle. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(16), 3268-3298. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260512441257

Zhu, T., Crenshaw, C., & Scott, L. (2020). Curriculum in action: teaching students to combat human trafficking. Education and Urban Society, 52(9), 1351-1371. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013124520911909

Downloads

Published

2024-09-30

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Sultana, M. (2024). Socio-Economic Factors Contributing to Human Trafficking in Pakistan. Qlantic Journal of Social Sciences , 5(3), 330-339. https://doi.org/10.55737/qjss.550397594