Suryaa International Desk: International reports have expressed concern over the flourishing illegal kidney trade in Pakistan, which continues in defiance of organ transplant laws. Although the Human Organs and Tissues Transplantation Act has been in effect since 2010, including provisions for imprisonment and fines, the illicit trade persists.
Reports indicate that brokers and mafia groups are profiting by exploiting the financial vulnerabilities of people living below the poverty line. Targeting individuals in rural and underdeveloped areas, brokers offer large sums of money to those in debt to procure their kidneys. Victims are often deceived, receiving only a fraction of the promised payment. Researchers noted that victims are reluctant to file complaints due to fear of legal repercussions regarding the sale of organs.
The lack of awareness regarding organ donation and transplant procedures, combined with a lack of post-operative medical care, has left those who sell their kidneys facing severe health issues. Some victims eventually require dialysis or further kidney transplants themselves. Experts attribute the continuation of this trade to failures in law enforcement, corruption, and a lack of strict action against offenders. Human rights organizations are calling for international intervention to curb this trade.
