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Mr. Chairman,
Today crime transcends national boundaries and threatens regional and
international security. The primary responsibility to prevent and combat crimes
rests with individual states. A befitting response to various forms of crime not
only requires political resolve and effective implementation of policies at the
national level but also necessitates international cooperation. However,
organized crime is exploiting the advances in communication technology and
relaxed border controls designed to foster legitimate trade. It is becoming
increasingly difficult for states to deal with criminal activity, which takes
place beyond their border yet adversely affects their interests. This
trans‑national dimension of crime, therefore, necessitates increased
international cooperation.
2. The United Nations has a central role to play in the international fight
against organized crime. The UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
(TOC) and its protocols together with the three conventions on drug control
provide a sufficient legal basis for joint international action against various
aspects of organized crime under the UN guidance. Universal adherence to these
treaties and their faithful implementation would remain imperative for success
against the twin menace of drugs and crime.
Mr. Chairman,
3. We commend the excellent job being done by the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes
(UNODC) in ratifying and implementing the instruments dealing with various
facets of crime, particularly its programmes against money laundering,
corruption and trafficking in persons. We also appreciate the work of its
Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB), which is mandated to provide technical and
legal assistance to Member States, for the ratification and implementation of
the 12 international instruments related to terrorism, but does not include
monitoring their implementation by the State Parties.
4. Terrorism is a complex phenomenon with political and legal dimensions. As a
frontline state, Pakistan is an active partner in international efforts to
combat this scourge. While states need to focus on strengthening their national
capacities to prevent and combat acts of terrorism and undertake law enforcement
measures, it is also imperative for the international community to assist those
states lacking in capacity to gear their legal systems and law enforcement
structures toward meeting the requirements for international cooperation. We
hope that the Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal
Justice to be held next year will provide opportunities to discuss these and
other relevant issues.
Mr. Chairman,
5. The growing tendency of project-specific contributions by major donors
impedes the independent functioning of UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC). To
redress this and to enable it to carry out its activities in accordance with the
mandates set by the Commissions on Narcotics Drugs and Crime Prevention, it is
important to increase the share of the UNODC from the regular UN budget. In
addition, the donors must be urged to contribute more towards the General
Purpose funds rather than dictating the operations of the office to suit their
priorities for political consideration.
6. Combating money-laundering and criminal economy constitutes a major element
of strategies against organized crime. Member States must examine the
desirability of a stand-alone instrument against money laundering negotiated
under the aegis of the UN.
7. Pakistan has been actively participating in the negotiation on TOC Convention
and Convention against Corruption and is also a signatory to both these
conventions. A number of legal and administrative reforms have been introduced
in key areas to prevent and combat criminal activities covered by these
conventions. In 2002 an Ordinance for Prevention and Control of human
trafficking was promulgated which covers several possible forms of human
trafficking and provides for severe penalties for those involved in this crime.
As a result of the government’s campaign against human trafficking, hundreds of
cases have been investigated and many already submitted for trial in courts.
8. In order to prevent documentation fraud, new security features in the
National Identity cards and machine- readable passports are being introduced. A
database of returning migrants has been proposed to be maintained for carrying
out studies to take effective measures against organized criminal groups
involved in human trafficking. Our Federal Investigation Agency ( FIA) has
embarked upon a number of innovative projects which are already showing results.
These projects include Automated Fingerprint Identification System, Cyber Crime
Unit, Anti money Laundering Unit, Special Investigation Unit etc. Necessary
steps are also underway to enhance international cooperation and mutual legal
assistance though agreements with other countries including extradition
treaties.
9. For prevention of corruption, a two pronged strategy is being pursued. On the
one hand a comprehensive anti- corruption legislation is being implemented and
on the other hand corporate management structures are being introduced in major
public sector organizations with a view to preventing corrupt practices. The
National Accountability Bureau, has been successful in bringing down corruption
within the country and has recovered over 160 billion Rupees of ill-gotten
money.
Mr. Chairman,
10. The international community has come a long way in its fight against drug
problem. Despite shortfalls there have been some significant achievements. We
believe that with political resolve at the national level and cooperation and
collective efforts at the international level, positive results can be achieved.
11. Pakistan has been playing a leading role in sensitizing the international
community to the drug problem our region. In our own country, we have succeeded
in the elimination of illicit crop through a combination of law enforcement and
alternate development initiatives. At the same time, we have been actively
contributing to international efforts to stop the outflow of drugs from
Afghanistan and inflow of precursor chemicals to prevent the drug production
12. While there are reasons to be optimistic, we have to be mindful of new
patterns and trends, which necessitate timely action for the success of our
strategies against the world drug problem. Special attention must be devoted to
the rising tide of illicit production, trafficking and abuse of synthetic drugs
and their precursors. Lenient policies towards drug abuse in certain regions are
hampering demand reduction strategy which needs to be checked.
13. The solution to the global drug problem and the realization of our shared
objective of a drug-free world needs a sustained and multi-pronged strategy both
at the national and international levels. This entails addressing related
menaces of terrorism, money-laundering, violent crimes and such other problems
that have a bearing in this regard. Pakistan remains committed to forging
effective partnerships at the international level, to curb the threats posed by
drugs, organized crime and terrorism.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.