In a significant step toward combatting cyber-enabled human trafficking and deceptive overseas employment scams, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), officially launched the FJA-PAK Project.

Titled Preventing Fraudulent Job Advertisements and Cyber Activity as a Facilitator of Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Human Beings, the initiative aims to dismantle online criminal networks that exploit vulnerable jobseekers through misleading employment offers abroad.

The project is funded by the Government of Norway and is being implemented in strategic partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). It is designed to enhance FIAs cybercrime investigation and anti-trafficking capabilities, while promoting institutional collaboration and public awareness.

Key objectives of the FJA-PAK Project include:

• Strengthening FIAs capacity to detect and prevent online human trafficking and migrant smuggling;

• Improving coordination between FIA, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and other national bodies;

• Launching public outreach campaigns to help citizens identify and avoid fraudulent job advertisements.

The official launch event brought together senior representatives from MOPHRD, MOI, BEOE, NCCIA, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), PKCERT, and members of the diplomatic and development community. The gathering highlighted the need for cohesive action to address the evolving challenges of cyber-facilitated human trafficking and irregular migration.

This initiative underscores Pakistans commitment to protecting its citizens from exploitation and reinforcing safe and legal migration pathways through stronger digital governance and inter-agency cooperation.