Pakistan has dispatched investigative teams to Morocco to investigate a migrant boat tragedy that left dozens dead, officials said.
The teams, comprising officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Home Ministry, will collect evidence and interview survivors to ascertain the circumstances of the wreck, a senior FIA official told reporters, Express News reported.
“The teams will collect videos, photos and other documents to ensure a thorough investigation,” the official said, adding that their findings will be presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
At least 86 people were on board when the ship capsized near the coast of Morocco, including 66 Pakistanis, according to initial reports.
It is still unclear how many survived or are missing.
Authorities have promised a crackdown on human trafficking networks suspected of facilitating the perilous journey. Survivors’ testimony will be key to identifying those responsible, officials said.
Earlier this week, a tragic incident involving migrants trying to reach Spain from West Africa may have killed up to 50 people, including 44 Pakistanis, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders.
The group reported Thursday that the boat, which departed from Mauritania on January 2, was carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis. Moroccan authorities rescued 36 people from the boat on Wednesday.
The migrants were part of a larger wave attempting to make the perilous journey across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands.
Walking Borders, based in Madrid and Navarre, revealed that the boat had been missing for days before the alarm was raised.
Six days ago, the group had informed the authorities of all involved countries about the boat’s disappearance.
The non-governmental organization Alarm Phone, which helps migrants lost at sea, also contacted Spain’s maritime rescue service on January 12, but the service reportedly had no information about the boat.
Walking Borders has documented a record number of deaths in 2024, with 10,457 migrants – around 30 a day – dying while trying to reach Spain, mostly along the Atlantic route from West African countries such as Mauritania and Senegal.
The Canary Islands, a key destination for many migrants, have become an important location for this deadly migration route.
Helena Maleno, CEO of Walking Borders, shared on social media that 44 of the victims were from Pakistan, describing the ordeal as a 13-day journey of suffering and agony with no rescue assistance.
The tragedy has sparked outrage from both local officials and humanitarian groups.
Embassy in contact with local authorities, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Meanwhile, the State Department confirmed the death of several Pakistanis in the migrant boat accident and said the embassy is in contact with local authorities.
The embassy in Morocco reported that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including several Pakistanis, capsized near Dakhla port in Morocco, after leaving Mauritania, as the survivors, including Pakistanis, are currently living in a camp near Dakhla.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated its crisis management unit and sent a team to Dakhla to provide assistance.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has directed relevant authorities to ensure all possible assistance to the affected Pakistanis.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also published contact information for assistance:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islamabad: 051-9207887, Email: [email protected]
Pakistani Embassy Rabat: Rabia Kasuri (Charge d’Affaires) +212 689 52 23 65, Nauman Ali (Consular Assistant) +92 310 2204672.
