PARACHINAR: The bodies of 12 out of at least 16 Pakistanis who died this month when a boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants sank off Libya’s coast have been repatriated to Pakistan, officials said Friday.
Most of the victims who died in the capsizing were from Kurram, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The boat was carrying more than 60 Pakistani nationals, and out of them 37 people were rescued, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Ten people remained unaccounted for.
Ashfaq Ahmed, a government administrator, said nine of the 12 bodies were sent to Kurram by helicopters on Thursday and Friday. He said the bodies of the four remaining victims will be brought home soon.
Libya, which shares borders with six nations and has a long coastline along the Mediterranean, is a main transit point for migrants escaping war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East to seek better lives in Europe.
Every year, hundreds of Pakistanis die while attempting to reach Europe via perilous land and sea routes, often facilitated by human smugglers. In January, authorities said dozens of Pakistanis died when a boat capsized off West Africa.
Bodies of 12 Pakistani migrants who died in boat sinking have been repatriated
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Bodies of 12 Pakistani migrants who died in boat sinking have been repatriated
- The boat was carrying Europe-bound migrants with more than 60 Pakistani nationals
- Officials say 37 Pakistani were rescued while 16 died and 10 remain unaccounted for
Pakistan moves to end week-long transport strike disrupting goods movement nationwide
- Federal delegation sent to Karachi as talks intensify with transporters
- Strike over axle loads and tolls has hit supply chains and economic activity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government on Monday stepped up efforts to end an over week-long strike by goods transporters that has disrupted the movement of cargo across the country, directing a high-level delegation to hold urgent negotiations with transport unions in Karachi, according to an information ministry statement.
The strike, now in its eighth day, has slowed the flow of goods between ports, industrial centers and markets, raising concerns over supply chains in an economy heavily reliant on road transport for domestic trade and exports. Trucking is the backbone of Pakistan’s logistics system, moving food, fuel, raw materials and manufactured goods, and prolonged disruptions can quickly translate into higher costs and shortages.
Transport unions have been protesting against stricter enforcement of axle-load limits — legal caps on how much weight trucks can carry — as well as increases in toll taxes and what they describe as heavy-handed policing on highways and motorways.
The action comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan, which is trying to stabilize its economy under an International Monetary Fund-backed reform program that places emphasis on controlling inflation and improving fiscal discipline.
“Prolonged strikes cause losses to all stakeholders, particularly those associated with the transport sector,” Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan said while chairing a meeting with representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, according to the statement.
Transporters briefed the government on their concerns, including axle-load regulations, toll charges and enforcement practices.
The communications minister said the government was committed to resolving all legitimate issues “through dialogue and consultation” and confirmed that a five-member committee formed earlier had been tasked with finding a solution. He directed a senior delegation to immediately travel to Karachi to continue negotiations and seek a timely and amicable resolution.
The government also pledged to address issues related to driving licenses, road safety and accident prevention on a priority basis, while stressing that axle-load regulations were designed to protect national highways and improve long-term safety.
Representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance expressed satisfaction over the progress of talks and assured the government of their cooperation, reaffirming their preference for constructive engagement, the statement said.
Authorities have warned that a prolonged transport shutdown could deepen economic disruptions, particularly by affecting port operations, industrial supply chains and the distribution of essential goods.
