Pakistan has sought urgent International Maritime Organisation intervention for the release of Pakistani seafarers, with 10 nationals being held aboard the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 off Somalia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar raised the issue with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez during a meeting in London, the Foreign Office said in a post on X.
Dar called for “urgent and effective institutional intervention” to secure the crew members’ early and safe return. He also thanked Dominguez for supporting efforts already underway to obtain their release.
The Palau-flagged product tanker was seized on April 21 about 30 nautical miles off Somalia’s Puntland region. The vessel had 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistanis.
Families of the Pakistani crew have appealed to the government to intensify efforts to bring the seafarers home safely.
Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the IMO and discussed maritime safety, security, regulatory reforms, international shipping standards and development of Pakistan’s blue economy with Dominguez.
Read: Somali Piracy Surge: 2 Ships Hijacked in Four Days
The case comes amid renewed piracy concerns off Somalia. The European Union’s Operation Atalanta monitored three attacks in late April through the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean.
Somali piracy peaked in 2011 before declining following international naval deployments and stronger security measures adopted by commercial shipping operators.
