At least 16 Pakistanis confirmed dead in Libya boat tragedy

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) confirmed Tuesday that 16 Pakistani migrants lost their lives when a boat capsized off Libya’s coast. Ten others remain missing.

A team from the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli visited Zawiya city, where officials reported that 63 Pakistanis were on board.

Authorities have recovered 16 bodies, identified through passports, while 37 survivors are in police custody or receiving medical care.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Foreign Office to ensure updates on the situation and take strict action against human traffickers.

The tragedy follows similar incidents in recent months, including one in January near Mauritania, where over 40 Pakistanis drowned, and another in December off Greece, claiming over 80 lives.

In response to rising illegal migration cases, the government has dismissed 35 FIA officials and replaced its director general for slow investigations.

Additionally, religious scholars from Lahore’s Jamia Naeemia have issued a fatwa against illegal migration, deeming it unlawful and against Islamic teachings.

Pakistan’s authorities continue efforts to combat human trafficking and illegal migration, urging citizens to avoid risky travel routes and prioritizing legal migration channels.