21 Pakistanis Among Survivors of Morocco Boat Tragedy

Sun Jan 19 2025
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Key points

  • Pakistan says coordinating with Morocco to oversee relief operations
  • Pakistan’s Embassy has arranged food for survivors
  • FO shares names of survivors

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday confirmed that twenty-one Pakistani nationals are among the survivors who have been rescued Off the Moroccan Coast.

“Based on verified information, twenty-one Pakistani nationals have been identified among the survivors of a maritime incident near Dakhla, Morocco”, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Shafaqat Ali Khan said in a statement on Sunday.

The statement also shared the names of the survivors.  According to the statement through the Pakistan diplomatic mission in Rabat, immediate assistance has been mobilized for the affected nationals.

” The Embassy has arranged essential provisions including food, water, medicine, and clothing. Local authorities in Dakhla are providing shelter and medical care in response to our diplomatic outreach.”

The statement said Embassy’s consular team is currently present in Dakhla to oversee relief operations and coordinate with local authorities.

Repatriation procedures

“Government of Pakistan remains in close coordination with relevant authorities in Morocco to ensure comprehensive support for our affected citizens and finalise repatriation procedures. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of overseas Pakistanis and will continue to monitor the situation closely”, the spokesperson said.

Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed that a migrant boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, had capsized near Morocco while on its way to Spain.

READ ALSO: Boat Capsizes Near Morocco, 44 Pakistanis Among 50 Feared Dead

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the incident, ordering authorities to submit a report on the incident.

“Strict action will be taken against those involved in the heinous act of human trafficking,” said Sharif. “No negligence of any kind will be tolerated in this regard,” he said.

In 2023, hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, lost their lives when an overcrowded vessel overturned and sank in international waters near the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos. This tragedy ranks among the deadliest boat disasters in the history of the Mediterranean Sea.

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