Islamabad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that a boat carrying dozens of passengers, including Pakistanis, had capsized in Libya.
The legal status of the passengers on board remains unclear, as the ministry’s spokesperson stated that Pakistani officials are working to gather details.
According to the Foreign Office, a vessel carrying approximately 65 passengers sank near the port of Marsa Dela, northwest of Zawiya City, Libya.
The Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli has dispatched a team to Zawiya Hospital to assist local authorities in identifying the deceased.
Efforts to Confirm Details of Pakistani Victims
The Foreign Office stated that the embassy is making efforts to gather further information regarding the Pakistani victims.
Additionally, the Ministry’s Crisis Management Unit (CMU) has been activated to monitor the situation, and people have been advised to contact the helpline at 051-9207887.
Relevant officials in Tripoli can be contacted via WhatsApp at 03052185882, or through phone numbers +218913870577 and +218 91-6425435.
Increase in Tragic Illegal Migration Incidents
This incident adds to a growing list of migrant boat tragedies in recent months, with dozens of Pakistanis drowning in multiple accidents.
In January, over 40 Pakistanis lost their lives after a boat carrying irregular migrants from Mauritania to Spain capsized.
Before that, in December 2024, more than 80 Pakistanis drowned when their boats capsized near Greece.
Strict Action Against Illegal Migration
Driven by economic disparity and the hope for a better life abroad, illegal migration continues despite its risks. Many individuals pay human traffickers large sums of money to reach Europe through unsafe means.
The Shehbaz Sharif-led government has ordered a crackdown on human smugglers and officials facilitating illegal migration.
So far, 35 FIA officials have been dismissed, and former FIA Director General Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir was removed from his post due to the reportedly slow pace of investigations into illegal migration and boat tragedies.
Religious Edict Against Illegal Migration
Apart from government action, Lahore’s Jamia Naeemia has issued a religious decree against illegal migration.
The fatwa, issued by Dr. Mufti Raghib Hussain Naeemi and Mufti Imran Hanfi, states that traveling abroad through illegal means is both unlawful and against Islamic teachings.
It further emphasizes that suicide or any action that endangers one’s life is strictly forbidden in Islam.
The decree also declares that agents or brokers charging money for illegal migration are acting unlawfully, urging the government to implement stricter laws against those endangering innocent lives.
