16 Pakistanis confirmed dead in Libya boat tragedy: FO

Published in Dawn on February 11, 2025

The bodies of 16 Pakistanis have been recovered with as many as 63 Pakistanis suspected on board a vessel that capsized off the coast of Libya, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Tuesday.

The incident comes on the heels of a similar tragedy last month in which a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized near Morocco. While the identities of at least 13 Pakistanis killed in the incident were confirmed, over 40 citizens were reportedly murdered by African human traffickers on the boat and only 22 survived the tragedy.

In a statement today, the FO said that a team from the Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli visited Zawiya city and gathered information after meeting local officials and the Zawiya hospital.

“According to unconfirmed reports, there were 63 Pakistanis on the boat and so far 16 dead bodies have been recovered and their Pakistani nationalities established on the basis of their passports.

“There are 37 survivors, including one in hospital and 33 in police custody. Reportedly, around 10 Pakistanis are missing in the accident. Three of the survivors are in Tripoli and being looked after by the Embassy,” the statement said.

The list of names shared by the FO contained details of the bodies recovered so far.

“The Embassy in Tripoli is in the process of gathering further information and maintaining contact with the local authorities,” the statement said.

A day earlier, the FO said that a ‘Crisis Manag­ement Unit’ has been activated to monitor the situation.

People seeking information about their loved ones had been asked to contact the embassy on these numbers: 03052185882, +218913870577, and +218 91-6425435 (WhatsApp).

The ministry’s Crisis Management Unit can be contacted at 051-9207887.

Your Comment:

Related Posts

26

Jun
Print Media

Innovation, growth action plan launched in agri sector

Published in The News on May 18, 2025 LAHORE : On the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a consultative meeting was held here at Pasco Head office under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain to finalise the “National Innovation and Growth Action Plan in the Agricultural Sector.” […]

Print Media

The Poverty Illusion: When Numbers Distort Reality

By Nasir Iqbal Published in pide.org.pk Publication Year : 2025 Last week, sensational headlines rattled Pakistan’s development discourse: poverty has surged, nearly half the population is now classified as poor, and extreme poverty has tripled. According to the World Bank’s revised estimates, poverty under the $4.20 per day line has jumped from 39.8% to 44.7%, while extreme[…]