Another ship that transports around 65 passengers, including Pakistani, overturned on the coast of Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) confirmed on Monday.
In a statement, the FO revealed that Pakistan’s embassy in Tripoli reported the incident, stating that the ship, which transported approximately 65 passengers, sank near the port of Marsa Dela, located northwest of the city of Zawiya in Libia.
The Embassy has immediately sent a team to the Zawiya hospital to help local authorities with the identification of the deceased.
The statement also noted that the embassy is working to collect more information on Pakistani citizens affected by the incident.
It is not clear if the passengers aboard the ship were migrants.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated its crisis management unit to monitor the situation closely, coordinating with local officials and offering assistance when necessary.
For people looking for information or assistance about the incident, the Ministry has provided contact numbers for consultations.
0305 2185882 (WhatsApp)
+218913870577 (cell)
+218 91-6425435 (WhatsApp)
This development occurs after a similar incident last month, when a boat that transported 80 passengers overturned near Morocco.
The unfortunate vessel carried 86 migrants, with Moroccan authorities who reported that 66 passengers were Pakistani citizens. After the incident, 36 people were rescued by the Moroccan authorities.
The Pakistani embassy in Morocco worked with local officials to facilitate the identification process. The data and photographs of fingerprints were shared with Nadra, which verified the identities of the victims. Once the confirmation was completed, the official lists were compiled and launched.
Following the tragedy, strong reactions of the Pakistani government have emerged, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordering the authorities to take severe measures against traffickers of people and the officials involved in facilitating illegal migration.
Earlier this month, the former general director of the FIA, Ahmed Ishaque, Jehangir, eliminated 35 officials for their participation in facilitating human smuggling operations and not fulfilling their tasks effectively.
