Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has released a list of 21 Pakistani nationals who survived a boat accident off the coast of Morocco.
According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, verified information confirms that 21 Pakistanis were among those rescued during the maritime operation near the city of Dakhla.
The Pakistani Embassy in Rabat responded immediately, providing essential aid, including food, water, medicine and clothing, to those affected. Medical teams are also participating in relief efforts.
The Pakistani embassy and government remain in contact with Moroccan authorities to monitor the situation and ensure necessary support to survivors.
The names of those rescued include Mudassir Hussain, Waseem Khalid, Muhammad Khaliq, Abdul Ghaffar, Gul Shamir, Tanveer Ahmed, Muhammad Abbas Kazmi, Ghulam Mustafa, Imran Iqbal, Shoaib Zafar, Ali Hasan, Muhammad Asif and Bilal Iqbal.
Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar asked the government to provide prompt assistance to victims of a recent boat tragedy off the coast of Morocco, where more than 40 Pakistani nationals are believed to have drowned while trying to reach Europe.
On Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that a migrant boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, had capsized near Morocco while heading to Spain.
The boat left Mauritania on January 2, carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, according to the rights association Walking Borders. Moroccan authorities rescued 36 people on Wednesday.
The boat was heading to the Spanish Canary Islands when it tragically capsized. Walking Borders CEO Helena Maleno said 44 of the 50 suspected deaths were from Pakistan.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangerous journeys undertaken by migrants from regions plagued by conflict and an unstable economy, in search of a better life in Europe.
At a meeting in Islamabad, Dar directed the foreign and interior ministries to ensure prompt and effective assistance to Pakistani victims. Media reports indicate that most of the Pakistani nationals on board the ship were from towns in eastern Punjab.
In response to the growing threat of human trafficking, the government has stepped up its efforts against smugglers who facilitate these perilous journeys to Europe, with several arrests already made.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for increased international cooperation to combat human trafficking networks and ordered the Federal Investigation Agency to prepare a detailed report on migration-related incidents that occurred during the past year.
Shehbaz Sharif also called for implementation of an Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to monitor and prevent illegal movements.
