Sat Jan 18 04:42:30 UTC 2025: ## Dozens of Pakistanis Feared Dead in West Africa Migrant Boat Capsizing

**ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN** – Over 40 Pakistani migrants are feared drowned after their boat capsized off the coast of West Africa, highlighting the perilous journey undertaken by those seeking to reach Europe. The incident, reported on January 17th, 2025, occurred near Dakhla, a Moroccan-controlled port city.

According to the Spain-based migrant rights group, Walking Borders, 50 people died in total, with 44 of the victims being Pakistani. The boat, carrying approximately 80 passengers, departed from Mauritania on January 2nd. The Pakistan embassy in Morocco confirmed the capsizing, stating that several survivors, including Pakistanis, are currently in a camp near Dakhla.

The incident has sparked widespread grief and outrage in Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences and called for stricter measures to combat human trafficking. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments.

Relatives of the victims are mourning their loss, with many recounting how they paid exorbitant sums to human traffickers to facilitate their loved ones’ journeys. One grieving father, Ahsan Shehzad, revealed his son had sent a voice message detailing the overcrowded conditions and forced boarding of additional passengers.

The tragedy underscores the increasingly dangerous routes migrants are forced to take to reach Europe. While the majority of migrants to Europe use legal channels, the tightening of border controls in the Mediterranean has led to a surge in perilous journeys via West Africa. Walking Borders described the route to the Canary Islands as “the deadliest in the world,” with nearly 10,000 deaths or disappearances reported in 2024.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry is working with Moroccan authorities to assist survivors and repatriate the bodies of the deceased. The government has also pledged to continue its crackdown on human traffickers, although this latest incident highlights the ongoing challenges in preventing these tragic events. This capsizing follows a similar tragedy in 2023, where an estimated 350 Pakistanis perished in a boat sinking off the coast of Greece.

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