Organized crime is a growing threat to Pakistan, persisting despite ongoing efforts and leading the country to be rated as high-risk with low resilience in the Global Organized Crime Index, 2023.
In response, Pakistan is actively developing its first comprehensive National Strategy against Organized Crime, emphasizing a whole-of-government approach and being formulated with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UK government. As part of this initiative, a consultative workshop on shaping the national strategy against organized crimes will kick off at the Federal Judicial Academy, Islamabad, on December 10, 2025, with key players of Pakistan’s Criminal Justice System invited to participate.
Organized crime in Pakistan involves major activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering, and various forms of financial fraud and extortion. Organized crime gangs are typically and heavily involved in both wildlife and forestry crime. The activities of arms dealing, stolen cars, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, illegal immigration, and various frauds in Pakistan are not attributed to a single, monolithic criminal organization but rather to various transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), mafia-style groups, and informal criminal networks operating within and across the country’s borders.
Lucrative human trafficking and smuggling are on the rise, targeting vulnerable populations for forced labor and sexual exploitation. The country’s porous borders facilitate drug trafficking, and the growing presence of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine is adding a troubling dimension to the drug trade. Environmental crimes, including illegal logging, charcoal production, and wildlife trafficking, continue to exploit weak enforcement mechanisms and threaten Pakistan’s natural resources.
Corruption significantly hinders effective crime prevention by eroding public trust, diverting resources, and allowing criminal enterprises to operate with impunity. The stakeholders of the Criminal Justice System, though demonstrating resilience, face significant limitations due to underfunding, insufficient infrastructure, acute shortage of skilled manpower, and other external factors. Public distrust of the police has fueled instances of mob justice, even in major cities of the country, further complicating crime management. Community policing will go a long way in reducing criminal activity.
Organized crime has a pervasive and devastating impact on Pakistani society. It fuels addiction, undermines legitimate commerce and governance, and provides a major source of funding for terrorism. While Pakistan’s judiciary has improved in resilience, it remains underfunded, with inadequate infrastructure and an acute shortage of skilled manpower. Law enforcement capabilities are limited, with insufficient training and resources hampering their ability to address organized crime effectively. Pakistan’s extensive and porous borders with bordering countries are a significant challenge in curbing transnational crime, including drug and arms trafficking, human smuggling, and terrorism financing.
Tackling organized crime demands a comprehensive strategy, moving beyond standard law enforcement. This multi-faceted approach should encompass institutional, economic, social, and technological reforms to address the root causes and disrupt criminal networks.
Strengthening the judicial system, reducing corruption, and providing social programs must be recognized as crucial strategies for undermining the power of criminal gangs. These approaches will address the root causes and operational environment that allow gangs to thrive. Moreover, international cooperation is also essential for combating cross-border crimes such as drug and human trafficking, as these issues inherently exceed the jurisdiction and capacity of any single nation. Effective strategies rely heavily on collaboration to address the multifaceted nature of these transnational threats.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Islamabad.
