Islamabad, Mar 15, 2025: A large-scale fraud has left numerous Pakistanis stranded in Cambodia, where they are being held captive and coerced into unlawful work after being deceived with promises of lucrative employment opportunities.
According to FIA Karachi Director Nauman Siddiqui, fraudulent job advertisements on social media promote positions in Cambodia’s IT sector, call centers, and engineering firms.
Many Pakistanis, particularly those residing in Gulf countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are targeted by Indian recruiters offering salaries between $1,000 and $2,000.
FIA sources reveal that similar deceptive schemes are also active in Lahore and Karachi.
Recently, more than 20 Pakistanis, including a woman, were repatriated from Cambodia after seeking assistance from the Pakistani embassy.
SHO Sohail Mahmood Sheikh from the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle disclosed that 14 inquiries and two cases have been initiated regarding the matter.
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Victims reported that upon their arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were compelled to work in fraudulent call centers.
In response to the complaints lodged by the Pakistani diplomatic mission, Cambodian authorities recently carried out a rescue operation, freeing over 100 Pakistanis.
However, a significant number of individuals remain trapped in isolated locations, unable to escape their predicament.
Officials state that the majority of those affected hail from Punjab, and FIA is currently probing the involvement of foreign operatives operating in Karachi and Lahore.
