ISLAMABAD — On Tuesday, the Prime Minister of Pakistan conveyed profound sadness and condolences following the tragic drowning of several Pakistanis over the weekend. This incident occurred when a boat carrying migrants, aiming for Europe, sank off the coast of Libya.
The boat capsized on Saturday near the Marsa Dela port in the western Zawiya area, resulting in numerous migrants reported dead or missing, as stated by local officials in Libya. The Libyan Red Crescent teams have managed to recover 10 bodies, while the coast guard continues its search for the missing individuals. Pakistani authorities estimated that around 65 people were onboard the ill-fated vessel, and efforts are ongoing to gather information about the Pakistani victims involved.
In response to this calamity, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the identification of the victims and to provide any necessary support to their families. He also called for stringent measures against those responsible for human trafficking activities.
This distressing event follows closely on the heels of another tragedy less than a month ago, when reports surfaced of numerous Pakistani fatalities resulting from a boat capsizing near West Africa. However, some survivors claimed that their boat had not actually sunk and suggested that 43 migrants were killed by smugglers over financial disputes.
Each year, hundreds of Pakistanis meet with fatal accidents attempting to migrate to Europe via perilous land and sea routes, often relying on human traffickers in search of better job opportunities. Libya, which shares borders with six countries and has a vast Mediterranean coastline, has become a significant transit hub for migrants escaping conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, largely due to instability following the downfall of former leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the year 2024 has seen at least 674 migrants reported dead and over 1,000 missing in incidents linked to Libya. Additionally, more than 21,700 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya’s turbulent environment. In 2023, the IOM documented 962 migrant deaths and 1,563 individuals unaccounted for off the Libyan coast.
Furthermore, in 2023, approximately 17,200 migrants were returned to Libya. Those who find themselves in government-operated detention centers often face severe mistreatment, including forced labor, assaults, rapes, and torture—actions classified as crimes against humanity by U.N. investigators. The abuse frequently occurs alongside efforts to extort money from the migrants’ families prior to their release or their subsequent attempts to escape Libya by traffickers’ vessels promising passage to Europe.
