The bodies of 12 out of at least 16 Pakistanis who died this month when a boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants sank off Libya's coast have been repatriated to Pakistan, officials said Friday.
Libya, which shares borders with six nations and has a long coastline along the Mediterranean, is a main transit point for migrants escaping war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East to seek better lives in Europe.
Ashfaq Ahmed, a government administrator, said nine of the 12 bodies were sent to Kurram by helicopters on Thursday and Friday.
In January, authorities said dozens of Pakistanis died when a boat capsized off West Africa.
Every year, h undreds of Pakistanis die while attempting to reach Europe via perilous land and sea routes, often facilitated by human smugglers.
