Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) confirmed Tuesday that 16 Pakistani migrants lost their lives when a boat carrying them capsized off the coast of Libya. Ten others remain missing, while 37 survivors are currently in police custody or receiving medical care.
A team from the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli visited the city of Zawiya, where local authorities reported that a total of 63 Pakistanis were on board the ill-fated vessel. Officials have recovered and identified the 16 bodies through passports.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Foreign Office to provide regular updates on the situation and ensure strict action against human traffickers responsible for the tragedy.
This incident follows a series of similar migrant boat disasters in recent months. In January, over 40 Pakistanis drowned when their boat sank near Mauritania, while another tragic shipwreck off Greece in December claimed more than 80 lives.
In response to the growing crisis of illegal migration, the Pakistani government has taken firm measures, including the dismissal of 35 Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials and the replacement of its director general due to slow progress in human trafficking investigations.
Additionally, religious scholars from Lahore’s Jamia Naeemia have issued a fatwa (religious decree) declaring illegal migration as unlawful and against Islamic teachings, urging citizens to avoid dangerous and illegal travel routes.
Pakistan’s authorities continue efforts to curb human trafficking and illegal migration, emphasizing the need for legal migration channels to ensure the safety of its citizens.
