Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Tuesday that the death toll of Pakistanis in last week’s Greek shipwrecks had risen to five. The tragic incident involved a wooden boat carrying many Pakistani migrants that capsized near Greece’s Gavdos Island. The coastguard confirmed that at least five people drowned, and many others were still missing as rescue operations continued.
In other incidents, a Malta-flagged cargo ship rescued 47 migrants, and a tanker saved 88 others from nearby boats. The Foreign Office had previously confirmed the deaths of four Pakistanis in the shipwrecks.
Speaking at a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, PM Shehbaz expressed his condolences and described the situation as a “serious challenge.” He mentioned that a high-level meeting would be held to review the events and discuss future actions.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Greece, Amir Aftab Qureshi, provided more details, revealing that five boats were involved in the incidents, with three of them carrying Pakistanis. The boats had departed from Libya’s Tobruk city in early December. Qureshi explained that the boats were small and unsafe, and many migrants aboard, including Pakistanis, were rescued before their vessels capsized.
The rescue operation took place between December 13 and 14, with most of the rescued Pakistanis coming from a boat that set sail on December 11. In total, 36 of the 39 people saved from this boat were Pakistanis.
The embassy continues to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts, hoping to recover the bodies of those who were not saved. The embassy also contacted the families of the 47 surviving Pakistanis and urged them to avoid sending minors on such dangerous journeys.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated an investigation into the human trafficking networks behind these illegal migrations. However, many of the parents of the deceased have declined to press charges against the agents responsible for sending their children abroad. Officials noted that poverty, unemployment, and the desire for status have driven many people in areas like Gujranwala and Mandi Bahauddin to risk such perilous voyages.
The international migration crisis continues, with thousands of migrants using Greece as a transit point to Europe, despite the significant risks.
