Tragic boat capsizing off Libya claims 16 Pakistani lives

A boat tragedy off the coast of Libya has resulted in the deaths of 16 Pakistani nationals, with 37 survivors and around 10 still missing.

The boat, which was carrying 65 people, capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, prompting an immediate response from the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli.

A team from the embassy visited Zawiya city to meet with local officials and hospital authorities to gather more information, as confirmed by a statement from the Foreign Office (FO).

Details of the Victims

The deceased individuals, who were identified through their Pakistani passports, primarily hailed from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, particularly districts such as Kurram, Bajaur, and Orakzai. The confirmed list of victims includes:

1. Saqlain Haider (Kurram, K-P)
2. Siraj Uddin (Bajaur, K-P)
3. Shoaib Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
4. Nusrat Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
5. Shoaib Ali (Kurram, K-P)
6. Sayed Shehzad Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
7. Abid Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
8. Asif Ali (Kurram, K-P)
9. Muhammad Ali Shah (Orakzai, K-P)
10. Musawir Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
11. Aswar Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
12. Abid Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
13. Musaib Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
14. Anis Khan (Peshawar, K-P)
15. Ashfaq Hussain (Kurram, K-P)
16. Shahid Hussain (Kurram, K-P)

Among the survivors, one individual is hospitalised, 33 are in police custody, and three are being assisted by the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli. The embassy has been in constant communication with local authorities to ensure the well-being of the survivors and to provide support to the victims' families.

The government has expressed deep concern over the incident and is coordinating with Libyan authorities to gather further information. This event follows a similar maritime disaster on January 16, where a boat capsized near Morocco, claiming the lives of more than 45 Pakistanis.

In response to the growing crisis of human smuggling, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to intensify efforts to combat the trafficking of people.

The FIA has launched a crackdown on human smugglers, with recent reports indicating the dismantling of notorious trafficking rings. Moreover, over 60 FIA officers found to be colluding with human smugglers have been dismissed as part of these efforts.