Indian Woman Returns Home After 22 Years in Pakistan

Lahore, December 17 – After spending 22 years in Pakistan, an Indian woman who was trafficked by a travel agent finally returned to her homeland on Monday through the Wagah border. Officials facilitated her repatriation, bringing closure to a decades-long ordeal.

Deception and Ordeal

Hamida Bano, originally from Mumbai, left India in 2002 with the hope of securing a job in Dubai. She was deceived by a travel agent who promised her a chef’s position but instead trafficked her to Hyderabad, Pakistan, in Sindh province.

A government official stated, “On Monday, Bano traveled from Karachi to Lahore by flight and was then handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border.”

Reuniting with Family

Expressing immense joy at her return, Hamida Bano said, “I had lost all hope of returning to India, but I am fortunate to see this day.” Her family in India, including her daughter Yasmeen, had reconnected with her through a local YouTuber, Waliullah Maroof, who highlighted her story in 2022.

The vlog brought Bano's plight to light, allowing her to speak to her family for the first time in years.

Life in Pakistan

Before being trafficked, Bano supported her four children in India by working as a chef in Qatar, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia. However, after being taken to Pakistan, she faced an entirely different reality.

During her 22 years in Pakistan, she married a local man in Karachi, who later passed away due to COVID-19. Following his death, she lived with her stepson in Karachi, holding onto the hope of returning to her family in India.

Closure and Gratitude

Bano’s return marks the end of a long struggle for justice and family reunification. Her story underscores the vulnerabilities many face when deceived by false promises of employment abroad and highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation to resolve such cases.

Hamida Bano’s emotional return to India serves as a beacon of hope for families separated by circumstances beyond their control.