Thirteen Pakistanis die as migrant boat capsizes off Africa

In January 2025, a tragic incident off northwest Africa resulted in the drowning of 13 Pakistani migrants when their boat capsized. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed that these individuals were part of a larger group of around 80 passengers on a vessel departing from Mauritania, bound for Spain's Canary Islands. The shipwreck occurred near Dakhla in Western Sahara, highlighting the dangers faced by those seeking a better life through illegal migration. Families often sacrifice their savings for these perilous journeys, driven by hope for economic stability in Europe. Recent reports show that each year, thousands of Pakistanis engage with human traffickers, attempting to make the treacherous crossing to Europe despite the known risks. Punjab and the Kashmir region are major sources of these migrants, with strong historical ties to European communities. Tragically, Arslan Khan was among those who drowned, and his family sold property and animals to fund his journey, believing the trafficker would ensure a legal route. His brother expressed profound sorrow over the betrayal, receiving only his brother's lifeless body instead of the promised future. Pakistan has been noted as having one of the highest emigration rates in the world, as documented by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration. In a shocking parallel, a previous shipwreck in June 2023 claimed the lives of over 750 individuals on a poorly maintained trawler, with a significant number of them reported to be Pakistanis. The catastrophic loss of life in such incidents raises serious questions about the motivations behind illegal migration and the role of traffickers who prey on vulnerable populations desperate for a better future. This event serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis affecting migrants trying to escape hardship and the harsh realities of their perilous journeys toward Europe.