Ship with 65 Passengers, Primarily Pakistanis, Capsizes Off Libya
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Synopsis
A vessel carrying at least 65 passengers, primarily Pakistanis, capsized off the coast of Libya. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the incident, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the identities of the affected individuals.
Key Takeaways
- A ship carrying 65 passengers capsized in Libya.
- Most passengers are believed to be Pakistani nationals.
- The Pakistani Embassy is assisting in identifying the deceased.
- The incident recalls a similar tragedy in January 2025.
- Pakistan is cracking down on human trafficking.
Islamabad, Feb 10 (NationPress) In yet another tragic maritime incident, a ship carrying at least 65 passengers, the majority of whom are Pakistanis, capsized near the coast of Libya, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Islamabad on Monday.
"Our Embassy in Tripoli has notified us that a vessel with around 65 passengers overturned close to the port of Marsa Dela, situated in the northwestern region of Zawiya city, Libya. The Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli has promptly sent a team to Zawiya hospital to assist local authorities in identifying the deceased," stated a report from the Pakistan Foreign Office.
"The Embassy is also endeavoring to gather more information regarding the affected Pakistani individuals," the report continued.
The foreign office has not yet verified the exact number of Pakistani nationals among the 65 passengers, emphasizing that it is collaborating with Libyan authorities to determine the passengers' nationalities.
This recent occurrence has revived haunting memories of a similar tragedy in January 2025 when a boat with at least 86 passengers, including 66 Pakistani citizens, capsized near Morocco. The Moroccan authorities managed to rescue only 36 individuals, with 50 passengers losing their lives.
In response to this incident, the Pakistan government initiated a significant crackdown on human traffickers and their accomplices, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed authorities to take immediate and stringent action against those involved in facilitating illegal migration from the country.
In February 2025, the authorities in Pakistan suspended at least 35 officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for their roles in supporting human smuggling operations originating from Pakistani airports.
