The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday that 22 Pakistani nationals, survivors of a recent maritime incident near Dakhla port in Morocco, will be repatriated to Pakistan in batches.
The survivors were part of a boat tragedy that claimed the lives of 50 migrants, including 44 Pakistanis. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed later on Sunday that 21 Pakistani nationals survived the crash.
In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed that after thorough investigations and coordination with Moroccan authorities, the repatriation process was carried out in phases.
The Pakistani embassy in Rabat has been working closely with local authorities to oversee relief efforts and complete the repatriation process.
“The consular team in Dakhla has been instrumental in planning the return of the survivors, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Crisis Management Unit (CMU) has been actively monitoring the situation,” Khan said.
He added that the embassy’s efforts also included maintaining communication with the families of the affected persons and verifying their identities in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant departments.
The tragic incident took place on 16 January when a boat carrying irregular migrants from Mauritania to Spain capsized off the Moroccan coast.
The boat, which departed from Mauritania on January 2, had 86 migrants on board, 66 of whom were Pakistani nationals.
Moroccan authorities reported that the accident happened in waters off the coast of Dakhla and they rescued 36 survivors.
In addition to the ongoing repatriation efforts in Morocco, the ministry is also facilitating the return of 11 Pakistani nationals from Mauritania. These individuals have voluntarily chosen to return to Pakistan as part of a separate repatriation process.
The Pakistani government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has launched a high-level inquiry into the tragedy, with a special committee set up to oversee the investigation into the boat accident in Morocco.
The welfare of Pakistani nationals abroad remains a priority and the Ministry of External Affairs has pledged to continue providing all necessary support and facilitation to affected families.
