Atotal of twelve Pakistanis were identified among the survivors of the capsized boat off the coast of Greece, but so far the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased was not yet verified.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in a press statement on Saturday, said that the Pakistan Mission in Greece under the leadership of Ambassador Aamar Aftab remained in contact with the local authorities for identification and recovery of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and providing relief to the survivors.
“Our Mission also remains in contact with the Greek authorities in the identification process of the 78 recovered bodies. This identification process will take place through DNA-matching with close family members (parents and children only),” the spokesperson further said. Families of likely passengers on board the ill-fated boat were requested to contact Pak Mission in Greece on the 24/7 helpline numbers for verification purposes. The Foreign office also shared the following contact numbers:- Pakistan Embassy (Emergency) 00306943850188, Ijaz Ahmed Community Welfare Attache Wing 00306947 656932, Muhammad Tariq FIA Wing 00306955160682 and Hassan Ali Shah Counsellor Wing 00306955160098. They were also requested to share DNA reports from authenticated laboratories and the identity documents of the passenger at ‘[email protected]’
The UN Human Rights officials said that up to 500 people were still missing from a migrant boat that sank off Greece. A large number of women and children were among those missing in the “horrific tragedy” that left 78 people dead. The fishing boat was carrying up to 750 people that went down 50 nautical miles off Pylos in southern Greece, according to international media. Meanwhile, Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ahsraf directed the quarters concerned to take stern action against the elements involved in human trafficking and putting the lives of innocent people at risk.
The directives came after the House’s attention was drawn towards the tragic incident of a boat capsizing in the Greek waters which allegedly claimed the lives of people on board, including some Pakistanis, attempting to enter the country illegally from Libya.