Four Pakistani nationals were among the 11 migrants who lost their lives when a boat capsized off the Harawa coast near Sirte, eastern Libya, Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed.

The victims, identified as Zahid Mahmood from Gujranwala, and Sameer Ali, Syed Ali Hussain, and Asif Ali from Mandi Bahauddin, were confirmed dead after a Pakistan Embassy team visited Sirte. Two additional bodies remain unidentified.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident and instructed the Pakistan Mission in Tripoli and the Foreign Office to coordinate with local Libyan authorities to retrieve the deceased’s remains.

“We are taking strong action against those responsible for luring our citizens into this death trap. We will continue to come down hard against such elements so that no family has to face this again,” PM Sharif stated.

The Foreign Office also activated its Crisis Management Unit and reiterated efforts to gather more information about affected nationals.

This latest tragedy highlights the ongoing danger of illegal migration. Similar incidents in recent months have claimed dozens of Pakistani lives. In February, 16 Pakistanis died in another Libyan boat accident. In January, over 40 were killed when a boat capsized en route from Mauritania to Spain. In December 2024, more than 80 Pakistanis drowned near Greece.

Following these events, the Pakistani government launched a crackdown on human trafficking networks. Investigations led to the suspension of 35 FIA personnel and the dismissal of the agency’s Director General. Religious scholars also issued a decree deeming illegal migration un-Islamic.

Despite the risks, many continue to pay smugglers to pursue dangerous routes abroad. The government has vowed continued enforcement to stop such tragedies and protect its citizens from exploitative practices.