Sadly, the new year has begun with tragic deaths for dozens of Pakistanis attempting to migrate to Europe, bringing long-lasting misery to their families in Punjab province.

On January 16, a fishing boat carrying hundreds of migrants was stranded and eventually collapsed in the Atlantic Ocean between Morocco and Mauritania, resulting in the deaths of 86 people, including 44 Pakistanis who were attempting an illegal journey to Spain.

Reports indicate that approximately 40 Pakistanis were physically tortured and murdered by African human traffickers—about four or five people per day—while the boat remained stranded in deep waters for 13 days.

The traffickers demanded more money from the victims, and those who refused or were unable to pay faced brutal treatment.

Among the 47 Pakistanis rescued, 22 survivors are being repatriated from Morocco this fortnight, while another 11 are returning from Mauritania (four of them have returned). These survivors recount harrowing stories of their ordeal, detailing the inhumane treatment they suffered at the hands of traffickers.

Many had paid enormous sums—up to Rs 5.35 million per person—for air travel to Europe, only to be deceived and taken to Senegal and Mauritania, where they were held captive for months before being forced onto a boat bound for Spain.

This tragedy echoes a similar incident in June 2023 when an overcrowded and aging fishing trawler carrying illegal immigrants capsized near a Greek island, claiming more than 700 lives, including 262 Pakistanis.

However, these are not isolated incidents. In December 2024, five Pakistanis died after their boat, carrying more than 80 people, including children, capsized in the Mediterranean. Yet, despite these repeated tragedies, the insensitivity—if not outright complicity—of government agencies has allowed such horrific losses to continue, all while officials prioritize their vested interests.

In recent years, human trafficking has escalated in Pakistan, ensnaring thousands of men, women, and children in its grip.

Despite some countermeasures, the problem has worsened due to weak law enforcement, systemic corruption, and the impunity traffickers........

© Business Recorder