Charles Muchoki | Africa Guardian
More than 40 Pakistanis are feared to have drowned after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of West Africa, an area that has become a major departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
The incident has sparked an outpouring of grief, with Pakistani leaders expressing condolences and calling for stronger action against human trafficking. In a statement issued late Thursday, former President Asif Ali Zardari extended his sympathies, emphasizing the urgent need for stricter measures to combat human trafficking. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed sorrow over the loss of life.
The tragedy was reported by Walking Borders, a Spain-based migrant rights group, which stated that 50 individuals had perished on their way to the Canary Islands, 44 of whom were Pakistani. The group indicated that the migrants set off on January 2.
Pakistan’s government confirmed the incident after being notified by its embassy in Morocco. A boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, had departed from Mauritania and capsized near Dakhla, a Moroccan-controlled city in the disputed Western Sahara. Most of the deceased Pakistanis hailed from cities in Punjab, particularly in the eastern part of the province. Survivors have been in touch with their families, and relatives have gathered at their homes to mourn.
In the village of Dhola, Gujrat district, Ahsan Shehzad shared the heartbreaking news of his son, Sufyan Ali’s death in the incident. Shehzad explained that his son had sent a voice message revealing that the boat was overcrowded, with 25 additional passengers boarding forcefully. He appealed for the government’s help in repatriating the bodies of his son and nephew, who also perished.
In Jurah, another village in Gujrat, Muhammad Akram mourned the loss of his son, Abu Bakar, who was among the victims. Akram revealed that he had paid millions of rupees to a human trafficker to send his son abroad. His son had flown to Morocco, unaware that he would be placed on a perilous boat journey.
In Daska, Punjab, the families of Arslan Ahmed and Mohammad Arfan were devastated by the tragedy. To fund the journey, they had to sell property and pay millions to human traffickers to help the men reach Europe for better job prospects. Although Ahmed’s mother received news from survivors that her son might still be alive, she was unable to make contact with him. Razia Bibi, Arfan’s mother, urged authorities to trace her son and bring him home.
Annually, millions of people migrate to Europe, the vast majority through legal channels. However, an estimated 240,000 people crossed into Europe without proper documentation in the past year, according to the European Union’s border agency Frontex.
As authorities have cracked down on migration and smuggling across the Mediterranean, migrants have increasingly turned to more dangerous routes. In 2024, over 50,000 people made the perilous journey from northwest Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, including 178 Pakistanis. Walking Borders reported that nearly 10,000 people have died or gone missing while attempting to reach the islands, making this route one of the deadliest in the world.
The Canary Islands are about 65 miles (105 kilometers) from the nearest point in Africa, but many migrants take longer, more dangerous routes to avoid security forces. A significant number of migrants last year set out from Mauritania, located about 473 miles (762 kilometers) from the nearest Canary Island.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that some survivors, including Pakistanis, are being held in a camp near Dakhla. The Pakistani Embassy in Morocco is working with local authorities to assist the survivors. However, the ministry has not confirmed the exact number of Pakistani casualties, and officials were not immediately available for comment.
Each year, hundreds of Pakistanis die while attempting to reach Europe through dangerous sea and land routes with the help of human smugglers. In 2023, a similar tragedy occurred when an overcrowded fishing boat carrying migrants, including an estimated 350 Pakistanis, sank off the coast of Greece, resulting in one of the deadliest Mediterranean incidents.
In response to the rising fatalities, Pakistan has intensified its efforts to crack down on human traffickers.
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