Pakistani investigators compiled a list of 629 girls and women from across Pakistan who were sold as brides to Chinese men and taken to China.

According to details, U.S.-based news agency the Associated Press obtained a list which gives the most concrete figure yet for the number of women which have been trafficked to China as ‘brides’ in the past 2 years.

Earlier, reports came regarding fake marriages, forced prostitution and organ trade of “Pakistani brides” and government of Pakistan had launched an investigation into 142 cross-border marriages that took place in 2018.

In 2018 about 142 Pakistani women applied for wedding visas after marrying Chinese nationals while this year, so far, 140 Pakistani brides have applied for such visas.

Pakistani authorities have arrested more than two dozen Chinese nationals involved in allegedly selling Pakistani women into forced marriages in China.

In response China’s embassy in Pakistan released a statement saying China supports the Pakistani crackdown if laws are being broken and also China has sent a task force to coordinate with Pakistani authorities and “jointly safeguard China-Pakistan friendly relations.”

China has also withheld visas for 90 Pakistani women who were to travel to China with their spouses.