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.
