The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday that 22 Pakistani nationals, survivors of a recent maritime incident near the port of Dakhla in Morocco, will be repatriated in batches to Pakistan.
The survivors were part of a boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 50 migrants, including 44 Pakistanis. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday that 21 Pakistani nationals had survived the accident.
In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed that after thorough investigations and coordination with Moroccan authorities, the repatriation process was taking place in stages.
The Pakistan Embassy in Rabat worked closely with local authorities to oversee relief efforts and finalize the repatriation process.
“The consular team in Dakhla has played a vital role in planning the return of survivors, while the Crisis Management Unit (CMU) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively monitoring the situation,” Khan said.
He added that the embassy’s efforts also included maintaining communication with the families of those affected and verifying their identities in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant departments.
The tragic incident occurred on January 16 when a boat carrying irregular migrants from Mauritania to Spain capsized off the Moroccan coast.
The boat, which left Mauritania on January 2, had 86 migrants on board, including 66 Pakistani nationals.
Moroccan authorities said the accident occurred in the waters off Dakhla and rescued 36 survivors.
In addition to the ongoing repatriation efforts in Morocco, the ministry is also facilitating the return of 11 Pakistani nationals from Mauritania. These individuals voluntarily chose to return to Pakistan under a separate repatriation process.
The Pakistani government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has launched a high-level inquiry into the tragedy, with the creation of a special committee to oversee the investigation into the Morocco boat accident.
The welfare of Pakistani nationals abroad remains a priority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to continuing to provide all necessary support and assistance to the affected families.
