Over 40 Pakistanis Feared Drowned After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off West African Coast

A tragic incident occurred off the West African coast, where a boat capsized, leading to fears that over 40 Pakistanis may have drowned. This region has become a significant departure point for migrants aiming to reach Europe. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives and emphasised the necessity for stringent measures against human trafficking.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed his condolences regarding the tragedy. According to a Spain-based migrant rights group, Walking Borders, 50 individuals perished en route to the Canary Islands, with 44 of them being Pakistanis. The journey began on 2 January. Pakistan's embassy in Morocco reported that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including Pakistanis, departed from Mauritania and capsized near Dakhla, a Moroccan-controlled port city in Western Sahara.

Human Trafficking Concerns

Most of the Pakistani victims hailed from cities in Punjab province. In Dhola village, Gujrat district, Ahsan Shehzad mourned the loss of his son, Sufyan Ali, who died in the accident. Shehzad shared that his son had sent a voice message before the tragedy, mentioning that their boat was overcrowded with an additional 25 people forcibly boarding it.

In Jurah village, Muhammad Akram grieved for his son Abu Bakar, who also perished. Akram revealed he paid millions to a trafficker to send his son abroad. He was unaware that Bakar would be placed on a boat for part of his journey. In Daska city, families of Arslan Ahmed and Mohammad Arfan sold property to pay traffickers for their sons' journeys to Europe in search of better opportunities.

Migrant Routes and Risks

Ahmed's mother heard from survivors' relatives that her son was alive but couldn't contact him. Razia Bibi, Arfan's mother, urged authorities to locate her son and bring him home. Millions migrate legally to Europe annually; however, fewer than 240,000 crossed without papers last year, according to Frontex, the European Union's border agency.

As Mediterranean routes face increased security measures, more dangerous paths are being used. Frontex noted over 50,000 migrants travelled from northwest Africa to Spain's Canary Islands in 2024, including 178 Pakistanis. Walking Borders reported last week that 9,757 people died or went missing attempting this crossing and labelled it "the deadliest in the world."

Efforts and Challenges

The Canary Islands lie about 105 kilometres from Africa's nearest point. To evade security forces, many migrants take longer routes lasting days or weeks. Most departures last year were from Mauritania, at least 762 kilometres from El Hierro in the Canary Islands.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stated several survivors are currently in a camp near Dakhla. The Pakistani Embassy in Morocco is coordinating with local authorities and has dispatched officials to assist survivors. The ministry did not specify how many Pakistanis died and was unavailable for comment on Friday.

Each year hundreds of Pakistanis perish while attempting to reach Europe via land and sea with smugglers' help. In 2023, around 350 Pakistanis were aboard an overcrowded fishing boat that sank off Greece; many lost their lives in one of the Mediterranean Sea's deadliest incidents. Pakistan has initiated a crackdown on human traffickers.