ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that 12 Pakistanis have been identified among survivors of capsized boat off coast of Greece.
In a statement on Saturday, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that at this stage we are unable to verify the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased.
The Spokesperson said that the Pakistan Mission in Greece under the leadership of Ambassador Aamar Aftab remains in contact with the local authorities for identification and recovery of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and providing relief to the survivors.
12 Pakistanis have been identified among survivors of capsized boat off coast of #Greece. At this stage we are unable to verify number & identity of 🇵🇰nationals among deceased. @PakinGreece remains in contact with local authorities for identification & recovery of 🇵🇰 nationals.
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) June 17, 2023
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that that the Pakistan Mission also remains in contact with the Greek authorities in the identification process of the 78 recovered bodies. She said that this identification process will take place through DNA-matching with close family members (parents and children only).
The Foreign Office Spokesperson further said that families of likely passengers onboard the ill-fated boat are requested to contact our Mission in Greece on the 24/7 helpline numbers for verification purposes.
They are also requested to share DNA reports from authenticated laboratories and the identity documents of the passenger at info@pakistanembassy.gr, she said.
In Greece, at least 78 immigrants were killed and hundreds more feared missing after the sinking of a fishing trawler off Peloponnese peninsula.
According to the Greek Coastguard, 750 people on board when boat capsized near coastal town of Pylos.
They said that 104 had been rescued while efforts were underway for missing persons.
My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate ferry disaster in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Greece. Our Embassy in Athens has identified 12 Pakistanis rescued by Hellenic Coast Guard. The Embassy is in contact with…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 17, 2023
