ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that one citizen was among the dead in yesterday’s boat capsize incidents in Greece, while 47 Pakistanis were among the rescued.
At least five illegal migrants drowned after their boat, capsized off Greece’s southern island of Gavdos, the coastguard said on Saturday.
The Foreign Ministry in a statement issued on Sunday said, the Embassy of Pakistan in Athens is in contact with the Hellenic Coast Guard and with the Coast Guard of Chania, which are directly dealing with the search and rescue operation.
The Embassy officials have reached the Crete to meet with the rescued Pakistanis and provide them with any assistance required.
The statement said 47 Pakistanis are among those rescued while one Pakistani is confirmed to be among the dead. “At this stage we are unable to confirm the number of deceased or missing Pakistani nationals,” it said.
Families of the missing Pakistanis can contact the Embassy of Pakistan to share details at the following number: +30-6943850188.
Meanwhile, on the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a special cell has been established at the Pakistani Embassy in Greece to address the emergency situation, arising out due to boat capsizing incident.
The special cell will ensure the identity of the Pakistanis and the access of their relatives to their loved ones.
On the instructions of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar is personally monitoring the activities of identifying and helping Pakistanis affected in the incident, Radio Pakistan reported.
Upon Prime Minister’s immediate notice, the Embassy has also written a letter to the relevant department of the government of Greece.
READ ALSO: Pakistan PM Pledges Stern Action Against Human Traffickers
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed stern action against human traffickers. “Such persons should be identified and they should be handed strict punishments so that they do not repeat such heinous crimes again,” Sharif said in a statement shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
President Asif Ali Zardari in a statement also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Pakistani nationals in the boat capsizing incident. He said human trafficking is a heinous practice as people lose their loved ones in it.
In 2023, hundreds of migrants drowned when an overcrowded vessel capsized and sank in international waters off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos. It was one of the deadliest boat disasters ever in the Mediterranean Sea.
Only 104 people, including 12 Pakistanis, were rescued and 82 bodies were recovered after the incident.
