Synopsis
Four Pakistani citizens were confirmed among the eleven casualties in a tragic boat capsize incident off the coast of Libya. The Prime Minister expressed condolences and promised action against human traffickers, while efforts to recover the deceased continue.Key Takeaways
- Four Pakistanis confirmed dead in Libya boat tragedy.
- Pakistan's government vows to combat human trafficking.
- Tragic incidents of migrant deaths continue to rise.
- Embassy teams are actively working to recover remains.
- Illegal migration poses significant risks to lives.
Islamabad, April 16 (NationPress) Four Pakistani nationals were among eleven fatalities in a tragic boat capsizing incident off the Libyan coast, as confirmed by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
The bodies of at least four Pakistanis were recovered near the Harawa shoreline close to Sirte in eastern Libya after a vessel carrying foreign migrants overturned.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his profound sorrow over the loss of life, promising to take stringent measures against those who entice citizens into such perilous situations.
PM Sharif has instructed the Pakistan Mission in Tripoli and the Foreign Office to collaborate with local authorities to recover the remains of the deceased Pakistani nationals.
“I am deeply saddened by the reports from our Mission in Tripoli regarding yet another boat capsizing incident off the Harawa coast near Sirte city, Eastern Libya, in which at least four Pakistanis are confirmed dead among eleven casualties,” he stated.
“Our Mission and the Foreign Office are diligently working with local authorities to secure the remains of the deceased,” he added in a statement on Wednesday.
“We are committed to taking severe action against those who lure our citizens into these deadly traps, ensuring no family has to bear the burden of transporting their loved ones' coffins following such incidents,” he reiterated.
A team from the Pakistan Embassy confirmed the deaths of Pakistani nationals after visiting Sirte city.
“A visit from our Embassy team to Sirte has validated the recovery of eleven migrant bodies. Among these, four have been identified as Pakistani nationals based on their official documents, while two bodies remain unidentified,” said the Pakistan Foreign Office.
The deceased Pakistani nationals were identified as Zahid Mahmood from Gujranwala, Punjab, and Sameer Ali, Syed Ali Hussain, and Asif Ali from Mandi Bahaudin in Punjab province.
“The Embassy in Tripoli is making concerted efforts to gather additional information regarding the affected Pakistani nationals and is in touch with local authorities.
“The Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been activated to oversee the situation,” stated the Pakistan Foreign Office.
This recent tragic event adds to the ongoing crisis of migrant boat tragedies, where lives have been lost, and numerous Pakistani nationals have opted for illegal means and routes to reach European nations.
Earlier this year, on February 11, a vessel carrying illegal migrants capsized in the waters off the Libyan coast, resulting in the deaths of at least sixteen Pakistanis, with ten others reported missing.
In January, over forty Pakistani nationals perished when a boat transporting illegal migrants from Mauritania to Spain capsized.
Furthermore, on December 13 and 14, 2024, more than eighty Pakistani nationals drowned after their vessels capsized near Greece.
The Pakistani government has taken serious notice of these incidents and mandated rigorous action and a crackdown against both governmental and external facilitators.
PM Sharif has called for stringent measures against human traffickers and others involved in the illegal migration of Pakistani citizens.
During the investigation, at least thirty-five personnel from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were suspended for facilitating human smuggling at airports, alongside the dismissal of the then-Director General of FIA.
Religious scholars have also issued proclamations, deeming the use of illegal methods to emigrate as unlawful and contrary to Islamic Shariah.
Despite the inherent risks, many Pakistanis continue to pursue illegal routes to migrate abroad, often paying exorbitant amounts to human traffickers who use illicit means to transport them to Europe.
