At least 20 Pakistani nationals are feared among dozens of victims after a migrant boat carrying over 100 people capsized off the coast of Italy on Sunday, officials and local sources said.
According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 80 migrants went missing when the vessel overturned in the Central Mediterranean. The boat had departed from Tajoura, Libya, with around 120 people onboard. Rescue teams saved 32 survivors and recovered two bodies.
Local reports indicated that the missing Pakistanis belonged to districts including Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, and Sialkot. Several victims reportedly hailed from Phalia, Pindi Bhattian, and surrounding areas. Meanwhile, one پاکستانی survivor, Imran Asghar, was rescued.
However, the Federal Investigation Agency said it could not yet confirm the number or identities of Pakistani victims. Officials stated that investigations are ongoing, while the foreign and interior ministries have not shared verified details.
Survivors told authorities that the boat left Zuara, Libya, between March 28 and 29. এরপর, the vessel drifted for days after suffering engine failure, fuel shortages, and worsening weather. Consequently, many passengers reportedly died before rescue operations, possibly due to hypothermia.
Furthermore, the incident highlights a broader humanitarian crisis. The IOM reported that over 180 migrants have died or gone missing in Mediterranean shipwrecks خلال the past 10 days. So far in 2026, nearly 1,000 deaths have been recorded across the region, making it one of the deadliest starts to a year in recent history.
IOM chief Amy Pope urged stronger global action, stressing the need to combat human smuggling networks and expand safe migration pathways to prevent further tragedies.
