The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that 21 Pakistani nationals have been identified among the survivors of the Moroccan ship tragedy.
The Atlantic Ocean migrant boat tragedy occurred in waters between Mauritania and Morocco earlier this month. According to media reports, 44 of a total of 65 Pakistani migrants on board the ship drowned or died after alleged torture, while 10 bodies have been recovered.
A high-ranking government team will be sent to Morocco on Saturday to assess the situation and determine the loss of Pakistani lives in the boat tragedy.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar directed the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs to provide efficient and timely assistance to the Pakistani victims.
The survivors and bodies are currently located in Dakhla, a small city near the coast of Morocco.
“According to verified information, 21 Pakistani nationals have been identified among the survivors of a maritime incident near Dakhla, Morocco,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement today.
“Through our diplomatic mission in Rabat, immediate assistance has been mobilized for affected citizens,” the statement added.
The Embassy has organized essential supplies including food, water, medicine and clothing, the statement said, adding that “local authorities in Dakhla are providing shelter and medical care in response to our diplomatic outreach.”
The embassy’s consular team is currently present in Dakhla to monitor relief operations and coordinate with local authorities.
“[The] The government remains in close coordination with the relevant Moroccan authorities to ensure comprehensive support to our affected citizens and finalize repatriation procedures.
“We are committed to safeguarding the well-being of overseas Pakistanis and will continue to closely monitor the situation,” the statement said.
The names of the victims, according to the system, are as follows: Muddassir Hussain, Waseem Khalid, Muhammad Khaliq, Abdul Ghaffar, Gul Shameer, Tanveer Ahmed, Syed Muhammad Abbas Kazmi, Ghulam Mustafa, Syed Badar Mohy ud din, Imran Iqbal, Shoaib Zafar, Ali Hassan, Syed Mehtab Ul Hassan, Uzair Basharat, Mohammad Asif, Mujahid Ali, Amir Ali, Mohammad Umar Farooqie, Bilawal Iqbal, Arsalan, Irfan Ahmad.
