21 Pakistani survivors identified from capsized migrant boat in Morocco

21 Pakistani nationals have been identified among survivors at a shelter in Dakhla, Morocco, after their boat capsized while attempting an illegal sea crossing to Spain, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday.

The incident highlights the growing crisis of "dunki," a local term for dangerous irregular migration routes that have claimed thousands of lives.

The survivors, ranging in age from 18 to 48, were part of a larger group of 66 Pakistanis aboard a vessel that departed from Mauritania on January 2. The boat, carrying a total of 86 migrants, ran into trouble off the West African coast.

Pakistan's embassy in Rabat has dispatched a consular team to Dakhla to provide immediate assistance, including food, medicine, and clothing to the survivors. "Our priority is to ensure the well-being of our citizens and facilitate their safe return home," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

Local authorities in Dakhla are providing shelter and medical care to the survivors while Pakistani officials work on repatriation procedures. The fate of the remaining passengers, including 45 Pakistanis, remains unknown, though they are feared dead after nearly two weeks at sea.

Migrant rights organizations have long warned about the treacherous Atlantic route to Spain's Canary Islands. Walking Borders, a Madrid-based NGO, reported that 2024 has already seen record casualties, with over 10,000 migrants losing their lives attempting to reach Spanish territory.

Greece boat tragedy shadow looms

The latest incident comes amid growing scrutiny of Pakistan's efforts to combat human trafficking networks. Last June, more than 286 Pakistanis died in a similar incident off the Greek coast, prompting investigations that revealed deep-rooted corruption within Pakistan's border control apparatus.

A photo provided by the Hellenic Coast Guard shows migrants onboard a boat during a rescue operation, before their boat capsized on the open sea, off Greece, June 14, 2023. Reuters

A recent investigation found that over 60 officials from Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had facilitated the illegal passage of more than 4,000 Pakistanis to Greece since 2023. Despite their dismissal from service, these officials have faced no criminal charges, highlighting what critics call a pattern of insufficient action against trafficking networks.

The traffickers typically charge up to PKR 2.4 million (approximately $8,500) per person for the dangerous journey, exploiting desperate migrants seeking better economic opportunities abroad.

Legal experts argue that administrative actions alone, such as dismissals, are insufficient to deter such networks, pointing to the FIA's low conviction rate of just 30 percent in trafficking cases.