ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee about the tragic boat accident in Libya. The officials confirmed that 63 Pakistanis were among those who drowned, most of whom were from Kurram and Bajaur districts.
The incident took place on February 8, when the boat was carrying 73 people. Two Pakistani survivors reported that the boat had 63 Pakistanis and 10 Bangladeshis on board. Most of the people on the boat died in the accident, and the majority of the deceased Pakistanis were from Kurram and Bajaur.
The committee chairman raised a question about what the Foreign Ministry is doing to prevent such boat accidents. The Foreign Secretary responded that efforts are being made to stop human trafficking. The ministry is working closely with Interpol to catch trafficking groups. The Interior Ministry plays a crucial role in this, and the Prime Minister has formed a task force to prevent such incidents. The government is also running a media campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal migration to Europe.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed that seven of the deceased were Pakistani. According to FIA, their identities were confirmed through their passports. Six of the Pakistanis were from Kurram, and one was from Bajaur.
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Earlier, the Pakistani embassy in Libya had reported that the accident occurred near the port of Marsa Della, where the boat capsized. Initial reports suggested that 16 Pakistanis had died, but the next day, only 10 bodies were recovered.
