Pakistan has appealed to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for assistance in securing the release and safe repatriation of 10 Pakistani sailors being held aboard MT Honour 25.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar raised the issue during a meeting with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in London, the Foreign Office said in a statement shared on X.
The Palau-flagged product tanker was seized on April 21, around 30 nautical miles from Somalia’s Puntland coast. There were 17 crew members aboard the vessel, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
The prolonged detention has caused increasing anxiety among the families of the Pakistani crew, who have urged the government to step up diplomatic and other efforts to secure their relatives’ safe return.
Dar appreciated Dominguez’s support for efforts aimed at freeing the Pakistani seafarers. He called for “urgent and effective institutional intervention” by the IMO to help facilitate their early release and return home.
The deputy prime minister also reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the IMO and praised the organisation for its central role in promoting safe, secure and efficient international maritime transport.
The meeting also covered Pakistan’s initiatives to improve maritime governance, bring national practices in line with international maritime standards and expand the country’s blue economy. Both sides discussed strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and the IMO in areas including maritime safety and security, regulatory improvements and the broader development of Pakistan’s maritime industry.
Somalia’s coastline became a major hotspot for piracy during the 2000s, with attacks reaching a high in 2011, when hundreds of incidents were reported.
The piracy threat subsequently dropped sharply following international naval patrols and stronger security protocols adopted by commercial vessels.
