migrant boat has capsized off the coast of Libya with Pakistani nationals reportedly among those on board

Libya News: A boat carrying at least 65 passengers near the coast of Libya overturned. Most of the passengers were Pakistani. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry (MOFA) gave this information in Islamabad on Monday.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said, “Our embassy in Tripoli has informed that a boat carrying about 65 passengers overturned near Marsa Dela port in the north-west of Javia city of Libya.

Team sent to identify dead

The Pakistan Embassy in Tripoli has immediately sent a team to Javia Hospital to help the local authorities to identify the dead. The statement said, the embassy is trying to get detailed information about the Pakistani affected. The Foreign Office did not confirm the total number of Pakistani citizens among 65 passengers. He said that he is working with officials in Libya to find out the nationality of the passengers.

The same accident happened in January 2025

This latest incident brought back the painful memories of one such accident in January 2025. A boat carrying at least 86 passengers, which had 66 Pakistani citizens, overturned near Morocco. Only 36 people could be saved. 50 passengers were killed in this incident. After this incident, the Government of Pakistan initiated major action against human smugglers and their helpers.

The government led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed the officials to take immediate and strict action against the criminals involved in the illegal migration of the people from it. During February 2025, at least 35 officers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were suspended to involve their involvement in human trafficking from Pakistani airports.