Parachinar: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the identities of 16 Pakistani nationals who lost their lives in the recent boat tragedy off the coast of Libya. Among them, 13 were from Parachinar, while one hailed from Bajaur, another from Orakzai, and one from Peshawar.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 63 Pakistanis have been confirmed to be aboard the boat that sank off the coast of Libya. So far, 16 bodies have been recovered, while 10 Pakistanis remain missing.
The spokesperson further stated that out of the 63 Pakistanis, 37 survived—33 of whom are in police custody, while one is receiving treatment at a hospital.
The ill-fated individuals were desperately seeking a better future, fleeing poverty, unemployment, and instability in Pakistan, only to meet a tragic fate in the waters of Libya. Many had been waiting for this journey for months, having sold their properties or taken hefty loans to pay human smugglers for passage to Europe.
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Before boarding, agents confiscated their mobile phones, leaving them unable to communicate with their families.
According to Syed Jawad Hussain, whose relatives perished in the tragedy, human smugglers break their promises when the time comes. Instead of adhering to safe capacity limits, they overcrowd boats, often loading 50 passengers into vessels meant for 25, leading to frequent disasters.
Many families have lost contact with their loved ones, fearing the worst. Some have learned that their relatives have been detained by police or hospitalized due to injuries.
Residents Bashir Hussain and Syed Jawad lamented that due to rising unemployment and insecurity, Parachinar’s youth have been risking their lives in perilous sea journeys.
"Over 100 people from Parachinar have already lost their lives in boat accidents, while many remain missing for years, leaving their families in agonizing uncertainty," they said.
