The recent boat accident off the coast of Greece has left dozens of Pakistanis missing, as confirmed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Greece, Aamar Aftab Qureshi. During a press conference, Qureshi stated that the embassy will bear the cost of repatriating the bodies of Pakistani nationals who perished in the tragedy. While rescue operations continue, hopes for finding more survivors have diminished.
The accident, which took place due to overcrowding, involved five boats illegally transporting Pakistanis from Libya. One boat, which carried 80 Pakistanis, sank after developing a crack. Among those missing, a significant number are children.
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Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has verified that four Pakistani nationals lost their lives, with efforts underway to repatriate their bodies. Survivors are receiving assistance from local Pakistani nationals, though some have reported a lack of embassy support.
Two brothers from Gujarat, who survived the accident, shared their ordeal, recounting how their boat collided with a cargo ship near Greece after several days at sea in rough conditions. They also detailed their harrowing experiences of being held by human traffickers in Libya for months before the ill-fated journey.
The accident has shed light on the tactics of human traffickers, who now use smaller boats to avoid coast guard detection. The affected boat had 84 people on board, primarily Pakistanis, along with some Egyptians and Sudanese nationals. While 47 Pakistanis have been rescued, 30 remain missing.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the interior ministry to take decisive action against human traffickers, labeling them as a “cruel mafia” that exploits the vulnerable with false promises. He emphasized the need for strict punishment to prevent future incidents. President Asif Zardari echoed these sentiments, calling human trafficking a “heinous practice” that inflicts immense pain and suffering.
This tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers of illegal migration and human trafficking, as desperate individuals seeking better opportunities often fall victim to perilous journeys and exploitation.
