"We paid over Rs20 million to agents," reveal families of Greece shipwreck victims

A devastating boat capsizing incident on the coast of Greece left the families of the Pakistani victims shattered, with relatives claiming that they paid agents up to Rs2.2 million for a safe passage to Europe. 

Five Pakistanis have died after a migrant boat sank in the waters off the Greek island of Gavdos, south of Crete. According to the Greek Coast Guard, 40 people are reported missing, while 39 were rescued.

Sufyan, 20, and Abid, 15, both residents of Sialkot, tragically lost their lives in the boat capsizing incident. They were among the passengers on the ill-fated vessel carrying migrants to Europe illegally.

"Both departed for Europe two months ago, after paying up to Rs2,200,000 to the agent," said the victims' paternal uncle.

"Sufyan and Abid were in contact with us until they reached Libya, but all communication ceased thereafter," he added.

Abdul Rehman, another resident of Chak Kamala, has also been reported missing since the vessel disaster, leaving his mother and maternal grandfather heartbroken.

Despite a large-scale rescue operation, the coast guards in Greece could not find him. 

Families of migrants urged the government to locate their missing relatives as soon as possible.

According to the Ministry of Migration, Greece experienced a 25% increase this year in the number of people entering the country, fleeing war and poverty.