ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the foreign office to “ascertain facts” of the Italy boat tragedy that killed over two dozen Pakistanis.
Twenty-eight Pakistanis were among 59 people who drowned when a boat carrying migrants to Europe hit rocks near the southern Italian coast.
Italian authorities reported that 20 people were hospitalised, one in intensive care, after Sunday’s accident.
The Turkish wooden boat carried Iranians and Afghans.
“The reports of the drowning of over two dozen Pakistanis in a boat tragedy in Italy are deeply concerning and worrisome,” Sharif said. “I have directed the foreign office to ascertain facts as early as possible and take the nation into confidence.”
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra said it had requested details from Italy.
Afghan foreign ministry comments were delayed.
Human smugglers use Turkey to smuggle migrants into Europe by road, walking miles, and being locked in ship containers for days.
Migrants trying to reach northern Europe by sea land in Italy.
Since 2014, the UN Missing Migrants Project has recorded over 17,000 central Mediterranean deaths and disappearances. It estimates over 220 deaths or disappearances this year.
