Punjab Government on Monday issued wide range of instructions to implement the Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, in its true spirit while appointing the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate of each district to be the competent authority for the purpose of the Act.
It has been observed that people who do not know about the fact that only licenced or registered agents could be approached have been falling in the trap at the cost of losing their valuable properties, money and ornaments ultimately realising that they have been cheated said an official spokesperson of the Home Affairs and Justice Department.
Spokespersons said the agents, who are not registered or licenced by the Government, have been taking money and sending the people abroad and gullible citizens have been falling in their trap.
People at large have been warned not to contact any unregistered or unlicensed person or agent and not to give any amount to them, said the spokesperson.
The Government has also issued instructions to all the District Magistrates in each district to publish the list of registered agents and to warn the citizens not to go to such unauthorized agents.
District Magistrates or Additional District Magistrates throughout the state have also been asked to give wide publicity in this regard.
For the convenience of the citizen, the registered travel agent list is available in the Deputy Commissioner office and it is also available on the District website.
Spokesperson said that the Punjab Government’s Department of Home Affairs and Justice has issued Notification No 17/2/09-4H5/1804, dated September 9, 2013, regarding Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, (Punjab Act No. 2 of 2013) in compliance with the direction of Punjab and Haryana High Court.