Muhammad Shahid Khan is a seasoned professional with over fifteen years of experience in research, policy advocacy & lobbying, capacity building and program development & management. He currently holds the position of Senior Director at Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO). He has a passion for writing and has contributed articles to leading newspapers in various domains, including social inclusion and social cohesion, peace & democratic just governance, inclusive governance, human security, decentralization, parliamentary procedures, legislative development, rule of law, transparency & accountability and civic rights. Mr. Shahid Khan leads all advocacy portfolios at SSDO, focusing on governance, rule of law, TIP, human, minority and gender rights, as well as countering violent extremism. He previously served as the Program Lead (Aug 2015-Dec 2020) in the CWSA program 'Equality Inclusion & Participation.' Mr. Shahid Khan has implemented various capacity building & advocacy projects on human and minority rights.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Orientation of Law Enforcement to Victim Centered Approach in Combatting Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Pakistan

This project enhanced efforts to combat TIP in Pakistan through the effective implementation of the Prevention of Trafficking in Person Act (PTPA) 2018. The primary objectives were to improve TIP cases registration, ensure effective prosecution and increase referrals of TIP victims to rehabilitation services. To achieve these goals, the focus was on providing specialized training sessions to the police department, particularly the Investigation Officers (IOs), in adopting a victim-centered approach while implementing PTPA-2018. The training sessions covered essential aspects of the law, such as the PTPA provisions, First Information Report (FIR) registration procedures, investigation techniques and the significance of a victim-centered approach in handling TIP cases.

The targeted districts for these training sessions included Muzaffar Garh, D. G. Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Mirpur Khas, located in Punjab and Sindh provinces. These selected districts are known to face challenges related to socioeconomic development and gender parity, with a high incidence of TIP cases and human rights violations. By conducting these training sessions, the project strengthened the capacity and response of the police department in effectively registering and prosecuting TIP cases, ultimately promoting citizen and victim-centric policing. The anticipated long-term outcomes of this project include a reduction in TIP cases in the region and the restoration of confidence among citizens in the capabilities of law enforcement agencies. Through a victim-centered approach and improved law implementation, this project will contribute significantly to the fight against human trafficking and the protection of vulnerable individuals in Pakistan.

Nearly all of the 130 investigation officers who attended the workshops reported that they had little to no prior knowledge about the issue of TIP and left the workshops empowered to use their knowledge to combat TIP and to protect TIP victims. As a result of Muhammad’s training, 26 TIP cases have now been registered and are being investigated across the target regions. 

“Before this training, we were confused about the offence of child labor, bonded labor, and TIP cases. This training has clarified various dimensions of crime against children.” Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Muhammad was a participant in the IVLP Project Countering Trafficking in Persons (TIP), organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

Muhammad's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "During the IVLP experience, I happened to gain a deep understanding about the role of the Orange County and Los Angeles Police Departments and the fact that they have adopted victim-centered approaches to support TIP victims."

U.S. Communities Visited

Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC

"This project is inspired by the work stakeholders are doing in the U.S. to combat Trafficking in Persons." - Muhammad Shahid Khan

Country: Pakistan

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