Malik Waqar
In a briefing to the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee, the Foreign Ministry revealed that 63 of the 73 people who drowned in the Libya boat disaster were Pakistanis, with most of them feared dead.
The Foreign Ministry officials stated that the incident occurred on February 8, involving a boat carrying 73 individuals.
Among the survivors, two Pakistani nationals reported that the boat contained 63 Pakistanis and 10 Bangladeshis. The majority of the passengers on board were killed in the tragic accident, and most of the deceased Pakistanis were from the Kurram and Bajaur districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Rescue teams in Libya have recovered 10 bodies from a migrant boat that capsized off the coast, including 7 Pakistanis.
The victims, six from Kurram Agency and one from Bajaur, were part of a group of 65 people who tragically drowned in the incident.
According to international news agencies, no survivors have been found so far.
The incident took place yesterday near the port of Marsa Dela, located northwest of the Libyan city of Zawiya.
During the ongoing rescue efforts, the bodies of 10 passengers have been recovered, including 7 Pakistanis. Six of the deceased were from Kurram Agency, and one hailed from Bajaur.
Reports indicate that at least 16 Pakistanis were aboard the ill-fated boat, with ongoing efforts to locate the remaining missing passengers
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and regret over the tragic boat accident off the coast of Libya, which resulted in the loss of precious Pakistani lives. The Prime Minister has ordered the relevant authorities to submit a report on the incident.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the Prime Minister prayed for the elevation of the souls of the deceased and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
According to the statement, the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to quickly identify the deceased Pakistanis and provide them with all necessary assistance.
The Prime Minister also stated that strict action would be taken against individuals involved in human trafficking, adding that any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated. He emphasized that the government is taking strong measures to combat human trafficking.
This development comes after a similar incident last month, when a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized near Morocco.
The ill-fated vessel was carrying 86 migrants, with Moroccan authorities reporting that 66 of the passengers were Pakistani nationals. Following the incident, 36 people were rescued by Moroccan authorities.
