More than 40 Pakistanis are feared to have drowned in the capsizing of a boat off West Africa's Atlantic coastline, which has emerged as a primary point of departure for migrants aiming to reach Europe.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have expressed deep grief over the death of Pakistani nationals in a boat accident during its journey from West Africa to Spain. In their separate condolence messages today, they commiserated with the bereaved families and prayed for higher status in heaven for the departed souls.

Asif Ali Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of more than 40 Pakistani lives in the Morocco boat disaster.

The tragedy comes just a day after a similar incident near Morocco killed at least 50 people, including several Pakistanis.

Their boat capsized off West Africa's Atlantic coastline, which has emerged as a primary point of departure for migrants aiming to reach Europe. View on euronews

Over 40 Pakistanis are feared dead after a boat capsized near West Africa's coast. Departing from Mauritania, they aimed to reach Europe. Pakistani President Zardari calls for stronger anti-trafficking measures.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO), a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized, leaving over 40 Pakistanis among the deceased, a Survivors, including Pakistani nationals, were taken to a camp near Dakhla for assistance and shelter.

Pakistan said it had been informed by its embassy in Morocco that a boat carrying 80 passengers, including some Pakistanis, had set off from Mauritania and capsized near Dakhla, a Moroccan-controlled port city in the disputed Western Sahara.

Says several Pakistani survivors are in a camp near port of Dakhla; NGO chief says 44 Pakistanis among those presumed to have drowned.

More than 40 Pakistanis are feared drowned after a migrant boat capsized off West Africa, highlighting the dangers of human trafficking.

A boat carrying 86 migrants, including 66 Pakistanis, capsized near Morocco en route to Spain. 44 Pakistani migrants are presumed dead, highlighting the dangers of human smuggling. The Pakistani embassy is providing assistance,

Pakistan said that the boat, carrying 80 passengers including some Pakistanis, had set off from Mauritania on their way to the Canary Islands.